Carl Lewis delivered a stinging parting shot to fellow athletes yesterday, attacking them for taking part in big-money head-to-head races. The nine-times Olympic champion, who raced for the last time in Europe this week and retires in September, said races should enhance the sport and not the stars.

"Every sporting event should promote the sport, not individuals whose egos need fulfilling," said Lewis, launching a new mountain bicycle he will be promoting during his retirement.

He said some recent showdowns between top athletes had done little to enhance athletics.

Last June, a much-hyped head-to-head between Canadian Donovan Bailey and American Michael Johnson floundered when Johnson pulled up lame halfway through their 150 metres sprint.

"That's what happens when you concentrate on individuals," Lewis said.

Bailey picked up $1.5 million for his 15 seconds work while Johnson was paid a $500,000 appearance fee despite not finishing.

Lewis said he would not be lured back to the track by cash no matter what was on offer.

"I only want to run for the passion of it and now that my passion for competing is not there I have no desire to be out there racing again."

But he vowed to carry on speaking out where he found fault in the athletics world.

Earlier this week, he attacked athletics chiefs for softening their penalties on drug users in the sport.

"My relationship with athletics is coming to an end, but I am a person of strong beliefs and will speak out on things I believe in."

Lewis said he intends to pursue his commercial interests with the mountain bike's US manufacturer Trialtir. He has made an advertisement popular with American cable television channels and will be paid through royalties on bicycle sales.

He said he would also continue promotional work for sports equipment manufacturer Nike.