USAIN BOLT can cure so many ills they should rename him Calpol. Athletics needed a pick-me-up after a wearying week in which the Olympics door was closed once and for all on Russia’s track and field competitors, with a decision expected from the IOC (International Olympic Committee) tomorrow on whether their compatriots from other sporting disciplines will also be told to stay at home. It is little wonder gloom abounds the closer we get to Rio.

Bolt’s appearance at the Mueller Anniversary Games at the Olympic Stadium in London, then, served as a perfect if temporary tonic. At the ground where he won triple gold four years ago and has never lost a race, his very presence was enough to have those inside what will become West Ham United’s new home in the coming weeks working themselves up into a lather. All debate over state-sponsored doping and the Zika virus was momentarily suspended as Bolt sprinkled his personal brand of stardust and bewitched the crowd in that way that only he can. He will be missed when he finally hangs up his spikes.

There was intrigue, too, about how the 29 year-old might perform. There is a feeling that Bolt is somehow immortal, an almost other-worldly figure impervious to the physical frailties that weaken the rest of us. A hamstring injury, however, has hampered recent preparations meaning this was his first 200m outing of the year. In the final race of the night, a false start only served to further ratchet up the tension.

When Bolt finally got going, there was only going to be one winner. Running from lane six, he was well clear after the bend before visibly easing off to win in a time of 19:89. Needing to prove his fitness to the Jamaican authorities ahead of Rio, this sent quite the message. The clamour to congratulate him went on for quite some time as he embarked on an extended lap of honour, much to the delight of those who had stayed behind to greet him.

“I'm getting there,” he said, perhaps sending out a warning to his Olympic rivals. “I'm not fully in shape, I need more work. But over time I'll be fine, I'll just keep doing the work.”

They milked every last drop out of Bolt. His first appearance of the night was rather dramatic as he was driven through balls of fire while perched on the back of a pick-up truck, the last in a convoy of vehicles that also included Scotland’s Laura Muir.

On this the tenth stop in this season’s Diamond League series, Bolt was not the only marquee name on the bill. London saved some of its love and affection for Jessica Ennis-Hill at the venue where she won her heptathlon gold medal on Super Saturday four years ago. Racing in the 100m hurdles, she snuck in to the final via a photo finish where she was then upstaged by American Kendra Harrison whose time of 12.20 broke a world record that had stood since 1988.

A sizeable Scots contingent was involved, too. A week on from her victory in Monaco in a new personal best time, there was disappointment for Eilidh Doyle in the 400m hurdles as she struggled over the final barrier to eventually finish fourth in a time of 54.70.

“I think I just panicked,” she admitted. “I was thinking, “you’ve gone ahead, don’t muck it up, don’t muck it up”. And what did I do, I mucked it up. So I’m pretty annoyed at myself for that. But I won’t get hung up on one bad race.”

There were mixed feelings for Jake Wightman in the Emsley Carr Mile, a personal best of 3:54:20 taking the Scot into fourth place behind a trio of Kenyans. His regret was that it had not come a few weeks earlier to allow him to book his Olympic ticket. It was also a frustrating night for Chris O’Hare, whose final pre-Olympic race was hindered by a knee injury as he trundled in last.

Three Scots went in the women’s 1500m. Muir claimed the headlines with her British record-breaking win, while Eilish McColgan and Steph Twell, who will both compete over 5000m at Rio, came in seventh and 13th respectively. But it was Bolt – and Muir – who stole the show on the night.

They will do it all again this afternoon with several Scots among those looking to hone their preparations for Rio on day two of these games. First up is Lennie Waite, the Paisley-born, Texas-based athlete who takes her place in the 3000m steeplechase field, while Lynsey Sharp will look to improve on her fifth-place finish in Monaco when she goes in the 800m. None of the top three from last week – including Olympic favourite Caster Semenya – will take part in London.