The former world record holder had pulled out of recent meetings in Stockholm, London, Paris and Zurich because of a series of injury problems.

His agent Paul Doyle claimed Powell has "many problems in his groin which have extended to his back and hamstrings" and he has decided not to race again this year.

Powell's announcement follows the decision by Bolt, the world record holder and world and Olympic champion in the 100m and 200m, to end his season because of a tightness in his lower back.

Powell suffered back and hamstring injuries since the Samsung Diamond League meeting Paris last month and is still unable to train at 100 per cent.

The injury forced him to miss the clash with Bolt and Tyson Gay in Stockholm.

He also missed the Aviva London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace against Tyson Gay and Yohan Blake earlier this month.

Doyle said: "The the injury is not bad but he has missed five weeks of training which would make it difficult [for him] to run again this season."

Powell's decision, however, is another blow to organisers of the Commonwealth Games, which is due to open on October 3.

Powell had competed in the previous two editions of the Games, at Manchester in 2002 - where he was a member of the Jamaican team that won the silver medals 4x100m relay - and at Melbourne four years ago, winning two gold medals, the 100m and the relay.

Already missing Bolt and women's Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown, it makes a mockery of a promise made by Suresh Kalmadi, the Organising Committee of Delhi 2010, that Jamaica would send their strongest team to the Games.

Powell's announcement swiftly follows the news last week that Australia's triple Olympic champion, swimmer Stephanie Rice, had withdrawn to have surgery on a shoulder injury.

Other leading names to have withdrawn include cyclists Sir Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins and Victoria Pendleton, world and European heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis and world gymnastics gold medallist Beth Tweddle.

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