The 21-year-old last month broke the world record for two laps twice in the space of a week.

First, in Berlin he lowered Wilson Kipketer's 13-year-old figures by two-hundredths of a second to 1min 41.09 sec and then seven days later reduced the time further to 1:41.01 in Rieti.

Rudisha, who earlier this year won the African Championships, now claims that competing at the Commonwealth Games would compromise his preparations for next year and the London 2012 Olympics.

"I started my season early and was in shape, running 1:43 by February, and I maintained it until September," said Rudisha, who will run his final race of the season when he competes for Africa at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Continental Cup in Split at the weekend.

"I believe I need time to rest and focus on next year.

"I have come to realise that, in this profession, you do not need to wait for your body to tell you when to stop but rather have the instinct to stop when it is required.

"I need to go away after Split, maybe for two months.

"Next year has the World Championship [in Daegu] and then we have the Olympics.

"I want to be in top form for both events."

The withdrawal from the Commonwealth Games of Rudisha, the new shining star of world athletics, is a further blow to Indian organisers who have already lost Jamaica's world 100m and 200m world record holder Usain Bolt and Britain's world and European heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis, who both claimed that the event was too late in the year for them.

Rudisha's decision has nevertheless been backed by David Okeyo, the secretary general of Athletics Kenya. 

"He has given it everything," said Okeyo.

"He ran well and set two world records in seven days.

"It requires more to be in that form and maintain yourself at the top.

"To return stronger and sharp next season, he must not be running in too many races; we must protect him from burning out."

The Games are due to be opened by Prince Charles on October 3.

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