Three England athletes join list of absentees
High-profile stars cite safety, injury as reasons
London: The under siege Commonwealth Games has suffered another blow after three of England's high profile athletes — Phillips Idowu, Christine Ohuruogu and Lisa Dobriskey — withdrew citing security and injury concerns.
British newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported that Idowu's agent Ricky Simms had earlier insisted that no official decision had been made, but the 31-year-old Idowu used his Twitter account to say: "Sorry people, but I have children to think about. My safety is more important to them than a medal."
When pressed on the decision by a follower who said they were "disappointed", Idowu, a triple jumper, responded: "Which is why I apologised."
"I understand people will be disappointed that I will not be competing. I am disappointed. If you know me as an athlete you will know these games mean alot [sic)]to me. It's the champs in which I won my 1st medal.
"And four years ago won my 1st gold, which kicked off the success I have in my career to date.
Put off
"All the press today about bridges collapsing and 23+ people being hurt, floods and unhabitable (sic) living conditions, getting my daughter ready for school this morning and seeing all of that put me off. I can't afford to risk my safety in the slightest," Idowu wrote on the social networking site.
Ohuruogu, the Olympic 400 metres champion, and world 1,500-metre silver medallist Dobriskey, both of whom won their first international gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne four years ago, cited injury problems.
"I had already picked up my team kit and was getting ready to go to the preparation camp in Doha. Instead, I will have a short break now and resume winter training in October to get ready for the 2011 season," Ohuruogu was quoted as saying by the daily.
Dobriskey, who had hoped to double up in the 800 and 1,500 metres, was insistent that her withdrawal had nothing to do with the adverse reports emerging from New Delhi about the Commonwealth Games.
Zurich injury
Dobriskey said her decision to pull out was because of an upper ligament injury picked up in Zurich a month ago when she had to swerve sharply to avoid a final-bend pile-up.
Absent faces
Following is a list of the biggest-name athletes who will miss the October 3-14 Games for reasons ranging from injury to security.
- Usain Bolt: The Jamaican triple Olympic champion sprinter pulled out because the event is taking place too late in the year.
- Shelly-Ann Fraser: Like Bolt, the Olympic 100 metres champion also had problems with the timing of the Delhi Games. She subsequently tested positive for a prohibited substance that earned her a provisional ban.
- David Rudisha: The Kenyan 800 metres world record holder said he was tired and felt competing in Delhi would affect his performance in next year's world championships in South Korea.
- Samantha Stosur: The Australian tennis player is skipping the Commonwealth Games because it coincides with Tour events.
- Asbel Kiprop: Kenya's Olympic 1,500 metres champion has suffered an Achilles injury, Kenyan officials said.
- Dani Samuels: Australia's discus world champion has pulled out due to security and health concerns.
- Christine Ohuruogu: The Olympic 400 metres gold medallist from England suffered cramps and said she did not want to aggravate the injury.
- Phillips Idowu: England's world triple jump champion has security concerns.
- Chris Hoy: The quadruple Olympic gold medallist cyclist pulled out because the Games clash with the European championships, which carry qualification points for the 2012 London Olympics.
- Stephanie Rice:The Australian triple Olympic gold medallist swimmer is skipping the Commonwealth Games to undergo shoulder surgery.
