Jamaican triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt apologized Monday over his comments on youthful marijuana use in Jamaica.

German newspaper Bild recently quoted Bolt as saying "When you're a child in Jamaica, you learn how to roll a joint.", for which Bolt apologized in a statement in Kingston.

"I want to apologize to the Jamaican people if at anytime it may have come across that all young people roll a joint," the statement said.

"I would also like to urge the upcoming 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 22-year-old said in the statement.

Bolt admitted that he tried marijuana as a child but said using drugs was not part of his lifestyle.

He claimed three sprint golds in world record times at the Beijing Olympics last year.

(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2009)