Bolt recently told a German tabloid newspaper that he used marijuana when he was a teen – comments that sparked a media storm throughout the athletic fraternity.

“I want to apologise to the Jamaican people if at anytime it may have come across that all young people roll a joint,” the 22-year-old said in a statement issued through his manager Norman Peart yesterday.

“I would also like to urge the forthcoming stars to stay away from any kind of drugs, as it is not of any value to them or the sport you participate in.”

The German tabloid Bild reported on Sunday that the Jamaican sprint phenomenon used the drug during his formative years, but had not touched it since.

“When you’re a child in Jamaica, you learn how to roll a joint,” Bolt was quoted as saying. “Everyone tried marijuana, including me, but I was really young.”

Bolt, however, was quick to point out that no one in his family or close to him smoked and he did not associate with anyone who did.

The lanky Jamaican shot to superstardom in at the Beijing Olympics last year when he captured gold in the 100 metres, 200 metres and sprint relay in record times.