The Birchfield Harrier will join main rival and England team-mate Jessica Ennis, the world champion, in giving the event a wide berth because it is too late in the year and she fears picking up a stomach bug.

Sotherton and Ennis are set to be joined by Phillips Idowu, the world triple jump champion, who is also expected to pass up the opportunity of trying to retain the title he won in Melbourne.

Britain's top gymnasts, including world champion Beth Tweddle, also announced last week that they would not be making the trip to the Indian capital because the Commonwealth Games, which are due to open on October 3, are too close to the World Championships in Rotterdam, which counts towards qualifying for the London 2012 Olympics.

Sotherton, the 2004 Olympic bronze medallist, said: "A lot of us have been advised not to go.

"If it was a month earlier it would be different, but it affects the following year.

"I've already won it.

"Phillips has too and I don't need to go and prove myself there."

Sotherton's decision will put further pressure on Suresh Kalmadi, the chairman of the New Delhi organising committee, who last month told a group of Commonwealth leaders, including Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, that triple Olympic and world champion Usain Bolt had committed to come to the event only for the Jamaican's agent to say that he had not made a decision yet.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected].


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