It wasn't the easiest summer for the second fastest man in the world in his quest to stand on his first Olympic podium next year, but Tyson Gay is intent on coming back from hip surgery ready for that challenge.

“I’ve had a lot of time to think, a lot of time to prepare,” the soft-spoken sprinter told ESPN.com this week. “And I’m all about constant improvement, so I’m really studying how to improve my training, my nutrition and my recovery.”

A multiple world championships medalist who swept the 100- and 200-meter double in 2007, Gay is the only man to have beaten interstellar talent Usain Bolt of Jamaica head-to-head in the 100 since the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Gay’s prospects for this season looked bright when he ran a 9.79-second 100 at a meet in Florida this past spring. But steadily increasing pain in his right hip became unmanageable after he ran a 100 heat at the national championships in late June, forcing him to withdraw from that competition and thus from contention for the U.S. world championship team.

The sprinter wasted no time addressing the problem. He underwent arthroscopic surgery to mend a labral tear and impingement on July 5 -- a procedure that put him on crutches for the first time in his life. The tedious process of rehab began immediately, and nearly four months later, Gay is still only cleared for light jogging. His doctors will put him through range of motion, jumping and endurance testing on Nov. 15. If all goes well, Gay will start building back to full training mode again and may try to compete indoors in February, although April is a surer bet for his return.

Gay knows the drill; it’s not the first time the 29-year-old Kentucky native has had to come back from injury or the operating table. (He had groin surgery in late 2009.) As he gets older, “It gets easier because you know that you have to handle your business,” he said. “But at the same time, it’s a little redundant, it’s repetitive, it does get a little boring at times.”

Six weeks post-surgery, Gay traveled to Daegu, South Korea, to fulfill sponsor obligations and watch the world championships as a spectator. He ached to be on the track again, but “after the first few days, I got over it and became that fan of the sport,” he said. Gay said he enjoyed watching the U.S. team excel and set itself up for London 2012, and was particularly impressed with Carmelita Jeter’s medal haul of individual gold and silver in the 100 and 200, respectively, and gold in the 4x100 relay.

But there were disappointments for Gay at worlds, as well.

Steve Mullings of Jamaica, Gay’s close friend and training partner in Florida, was absent, suspended after a positive test for a diuretic that can be used as a masking agent. The two men have known and raced each other since junior college days. Gay is godfather to Mullings’ son, and when Gay was hobbled this summer, Mullings’ wife, Aiesha, moved in and cooked for him.

Mullings is contesting the test results, which, if upheld, could land him a lifetime ban for a second offense. (He served a two-year suspension for a positive testosterone test in 2004.) After several delays, Mullings’ case is scheduled to be heard next month by a Jamaican panel.

Gay has been vocal and proactive about anti-doping in his own career. He participated in supplemental testing under the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s “Project Believe” leading up to the 2008 Olympics, and currently serves as a spokesman for the EAS sports nutrition brand, which is advertising products that are independently tested and certified to be free of banned substances.

“Yeah, I have been outspoken on doping and my belief that there are no shortcuts to success,” Gay said. “And yes, Steve is my friend. It wasn't that hard to see him withdraw from worlds, because at the end of the day, it is just sports. What is tough for me is to watch what it has done to his family. I still struggle with how and why this happened.”

It goes without saying that returning to track training without Mullings, who has pushed Gay in practice and beat him by a whisker in the Adidas Grand Prix Diamond League 100-meter race in New York this past summer, would be far more painful than a sore hip.

Also in Daegu, Gay and everyone else watching the 100-meter event at worlds were deprived of seeing the planet’s best when Bolt shockingly false-started himself out of the final. His disqualification intensified debate about the one-and-out rule currently in effect.

International track authorities have shown no inclination to consider changing the rule ahead of the London Games. It’s intended to prevent gamesmanship and delays, but that concept backfired at the race where Mullings beat Gay in New York, when three other men were DQed in three consecutive attempted starts. That along with windy, rainy conditions took the edge off the runners’ fast-twitch muscles and resulted in a ponderous winning time of 10.26 seconds.

Gay said he and other top sprinters may have to discipline themselves to live with the rule, but he’s never going to like it.

“Athletes work extremely hard to make it to the Olympics and to make it to world championships, and for something like that to happen, I really believe it’s not fair,” he said. “I believe the rule should change at major championships. Maybe keep it the same on the European circuit.”

A hamstring injury prevented Gay from performing well at the Beijing Summer Games three years ago, and an Olympic medal remains the only major gap in his resume. Gay intends to re-focus on his traditional events -- the 100, 200 and the 4x100 relay. Many have suggested he eventually turn his sights to the 400, where he ran a personal best of 44.89 last year without specifically training for the event. He still resists the notion, but has said he might contemplate trying to make the 4x400 relay pool -- and the longer event could become more tempting if he competes through the Rio de Janeiro Summer Games in 2016.

And then? Watching races from the stands during his recent layoff revealed something to him. “After being around the sport when I’m not running, I really think I want to be around the sport when I’m done running as well,” Gay said.