PHOTOS: Bolt clocks 9.77s, regains 100m World crown

Usain Bolt regained his world 100 meters crown and restored some credibility to a sport tarnished by a plethora of doping scandals as he scorched to gold in 9.77 seconds in Moscow on Sunday.

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A false start at the 2011 World Championships had left him with the only championship blemish to his illustrious career, since his rise to superstardom started at the 2008 Olympic Games.

Bolt equalled Maurice Green of the US as only man to have won four gold medals in World Championships -- 100m and 200m combined.

Fast-starting American Justin Gatlin took silver in 9.85 with Jamaican Nesta Carter securing bronze in 9.95.

"It feels great to regain my title," he declared, after clocking his fastest time of the year, 9.77s.

"I gave it away the last time, so for me to come out here to regain my title. I was very happy and very pleased with myself."

As rain fell and thunder clapped around the Luzhniki stadium, a pensive-looking Bolt mimed taking out an umbrella before the start.

Disqualified from the 2011 final for false-starting, Bolt made no mistake out of the blocks this time and although trailing Gatlin, directly to his left, at halfway, he surged to the front at 60 metres.

He was never worried about retaking the World title he first won with what still remains the World record of 9.58 at Berlin 2009.

"I wanted to come here to run as fast as possible," Bolt said, "but after the semi-finals my legs did not feel up to it.

"They're sore, but I am going to get them worked on tonight so I don't have this problem in the 200m."

Gatlin, former World and Olympic champion, and twice banned for doping, stayed on his shoulder all the way to the line, followed by Carter and two more Jamaicans Kemar Bailey-Cole and Nickel Ashmeade.

Injured Jamaican Yohan Blake did not defend his title from Daegu, South Korea, while American Tyson Gay, the world's fastest man this year, was not in Moscow after testing positive for a banned substance.

Two more golds will bring Bolt equal with retired Americans Carl Lewis and Michael Johnson as the most prolific title winners in World Championships history. Each has eight.

Last year, Bolt dazzled the crowds at the London Olympics, playfully declaring himself a legend after winning 100, 200 and relay golds to match his feat from Beijing in 2008.

Bolt swept to triple gold - and three World records – at the 2009 World Championships and added titles in the 200m and 4x100m Relay in Daegu.

Overall, he has 12 Olympic and World titles.