ANDRÉ LOWE, Special Projects Editor - Sports

American sprinter Tyson Gay has played down suggestions that recent criticism from Jamaican Usain Bolt added motivation for him after he helped the United States to beat Jamaica in a 4x100m relay for the first time since 2007.

Bolt has been very vocal about his disappointment in Gay's expedited return to competition, after the 32-year-old's backdated one-year suspension following a failed drugs test for anabolic steroids at the 2013 US Outdoor Championships.

Gay's suspension was reduced after he helped doping investigators in their investigations.

"That sends the wrong message: 'If you do it and get caught, just tell us all you know and we'll lower your ban," Bolt said recently. "The message should be: 'If you cheat you're going to be kicked out of the sport. I'm not looking forward to competing against Tyson."

Gay, speaking after the USA's championships record 37.38 seconds win, handed Jamaica (37.68) their first defeat in the event since 2007, claimed that he respects Bolt's opinion, while apologising for any disappointment caused by his situation.

"That's his (Bolt's) opinion and I will respect his opinion and that's the way it is," said Gay, who ran the third leg.

"At the end of the day, my situation was understood by three organisations and they understood it was a mistake and that I went down the wrong path believing some supplements were clean," said a calm Gay, as Bolt listened on while sitting five persons to his left.

The American added that the comments did not serve as any added motivation to try and get one over Bolt and his Jamaican teammates, noting that the focus was simply to win.

"A victory always feels good, it felt good getting the victory here. Besides that the past is the past, I ask for forgiveness, but right now I'm moving forward, I check everything thoroughly and we go from there," said Gay.