Usain Bolt has described claims he made disparaging comments about the Commonwealth Games as “nonsense”.
Bolt met members of the Royal Family, including Prince Harry, at the athletes’ village on Tuesday
The Times newspaper quoted the Olympic 100m champion as saying he was “not really” having fun in Glasgow.
It also claimed 27-year-old Bolt said the London Olympics had been better.
Bolt said on Twitter: “I’m waking up to this nonsense.. journalist please don’t create lies to make headlines”. The Times said it was standing by its story.
The newspaper’s Scottish editor, Angus Macleod, said: “We stand by this story 100%. We have utter confidence in this story.”
It is understood the reporter who wrote the story has “verbatim votes” of her conversation with Bolt.
Bolt did not comment when asked about the Times article as he arrived at the SECC to watch Jamaica play New Zealand at netball.
The athlete appeared relaxed, posing for photographs and signing autographs before joining in with a Mexican wave.
As he left the venue, he shouted “awesome” to reporters who asked how he felt about the Games.
His manager, Ricky Simms, earlier told the BBC the newspaper allegations were “utter rubbish”.
Mr Simms added: “The atmosphere in and around the stadiums has been absolutely fantastic and I have absolutely no idea where these quotes have come from.”
The Times claimed Bolt had been waiting in the rain for his car to arrive shortly after meeting members of the royal family at the athletes’ village in the east end of Glasgow on Tuesday.
It quoted the world 100m record holder as saying the Glasgow Games were “a bit shit” and that he thought “the Olympics were better”.
Bolt, who has been staying in the athletes’ village, then left “to do some business”, according to the newspaper’s report.
Speaking after winning his 200m heat on Wednesday morning, Jamaican sprinter Jason Livermore appeared to suggest he was not entirely happy with life in the athletes’ village.
He told the BBC that the Scottish weather conditions were “tough” for Jamaican athletes, but added “we are enjoying the Games” and “honestly we can’t complain”.
When asked what he was making of life in the village and life in general, Livermore responded: “Well it can be better – things can be a little bit better for us. Can be better in a lot of sense. We have to just enjoy and give god thanks.”
However, Livermore declined to reveal what specifically he was unhappy with, adding: “I won’t say. I won’t say”.
Bolt, who has never before competed in a Commonwealth Games, will not participate in any individual events in Glasgow 2014.
However, he has agreed to run in the heats of the sprint relay on Friday. The final will be held at Hampden Park on Saturday.
The arrival of the six-time Olympic champion in Glasgow at the weekend sparked a media frenzy, with Bolt facing a barrage of questions on subjects ranging from the respective political situations in Scotland and Gaza (no comment on either) to whether he wanted to play football for Manchester United (yes).
Responding to the Times article, a spokesman for the Commonwealth Games Federation said: “The Glasgow Games have so far been fantastic and everyone there, including the competing athletes, seems to be having a brilliant time.
“Usain Bolt must just be having an off day.”
The federation later said it was “pleased” with Bolt’s response to the newspaper report.
Chief executive Mike Hooper said: “We take Mr Bolt at his word. We’re very pleased with how he’s responded and that’s our position.”
Referring to Bolt’s press conference appearance on Saturday, Mr Hooper added: “He’s very upbeat, very positive, very focused on delivering for his fellow countrymen in the relay events.
“He has said what he’s said and I don’t wish to comment on the journalistic work of The Times.
“We’re not trying to be the Olympic Games. We’re about the celebration of the Commonwealth, sport and culture within the Commonwealth, and what a fantastic event we are seeing here in Glasgow.
“These Games continue to go from strength to strength.”
Glasgow 2014 spokeswoman Jackie Brock-Doyle added: “I think he (Bolt) woke up to the story like everyone else.
“His tweet says it all. He has woken up to something he didn’t believe he said yesterday.”
BBC