KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC):

Sprint icon Usain Bolt has confirmed his fitness for the upcoming international season after recently visiting doctor Hans Muller-Wohlfahrt in Germany for an assessment of his scoliosis condition.

The World and Olympic champion suffers with scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine, which requires him to see Muller-Wohlfahrt several times per year.

Bolt, who will run his first race of the season at the Rome Diamond League next Thursday, said he felt good about his health after a recent assessment.

"I am fit and ready to start my season," Bolt said.

"It (scoliosis) is not as serious as it sounds but, for me, as a track athlete, it can be serious. I work really hard to keep it away but of course, it's still there."

"I am fine. I feel good and I just went there (Germany) for my regular check-up."

rivalry

Bolt will be tested when he lines up in Rome in the 100 metres, as he will face Jamaican rival Asafa Powell along with triple European champion Christophe Lemaitre of France and Trinidadian Olympic medallist Richard Thompson.

The 24-year-old will be the main attraction at the meet and says he was looking forward to getting on the starting blocks.

"I know that people have been questioning if I am ok, or when I am going to run, and so on, but so far everything is fine and I'll be opening my season at the end of the month, as was originally planned," he said.

"I've had a small setback but it's getting there and I'm now looking forward to my first race in Rome."

Bolt has not run since injury cut short his season last August, just days after he lost to American Tyson Gay in Stockholm.

He has been training with the August World Championships in mind and says with his season debut just days away, he was feeling edgy.

"To be honest, I'm a little bit nervous with it being my first race of the season but I'm looking forward to it and to get the ball rolling," Bolt said.