More athletes pull out

An Indian security force officer stands guard next to a poster showing Shera, the mascot for the Commonwealth Games on a street in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010. The Commonwealth Games chief rushed to New Delhi seeking emergency talks with the prime minister over India's chaotic preparations, as two world champion competitors withdrew and England warned that problems with the athletes' village have left the sporting event on a "knife-edge." (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

World women’s discus champion Dani Samuels has joined a long list of top athletes who have pulled out of the Commonwealth Games.

The star Australian confirmed on Tuesday that she would not travel to India due to “health and security” reasons. Her absence clears the way for India’s Krishna Poonia for a possible gold medal in this event.

Samuels’ announcement came before England’s world triple jump champion Phillips Idowu and Olympic women’s 400 metres champion Christine Ohuruogu announced their decision to stay away from the Games.

Kenyan Olympic 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop also announced that he would not be coming.

The Games had been hit much earlier by the withdrawal of Olympic and world champion sprinter Usain Bolt from Jamaica, triple gold medallist swimmer Stephanie Rice from Australia, defending champion in 100m Asafa Powell from Jamaica and England’s tennis attraction Andy Murray.

Two ace Kenyan athletes who withdrew on account of fatigue were 800m world record holder David Rudisha and 5000m Olympic bronze medallist Edwin Soi.

Injuries had accounted for the withdrawal of 10000m world champion Linet Masai of Kenya and Lisa Dobriskey of England, defending champion in the 1500 metres.