The news is a devastating blow to the Indian organisers, especially Suresh Kalmadi, the chairman of the organising committee, who had claimed last December that Bolt would definitely be running in the Commonwealth Games.

Bolt, the world record holder for the 100 and 200 metres, is currently recovering from a minor Achilles injury and has been receiving treatment in Munich from Dr. Hans Müller-Wohlfahrt.

He will miss the Jamaican trials for the Commonwealth Games in Kingston next week but his coach Glen Mills claimed that this has nothing to do with the injury but the fact that New Delhi has never been on his schedule.

"Bolt was never down to run at trials," Mills told Track Alerts, a Caribbean-based website.

"Bolt made it known long ago that he is not going to the Commonwealth Games."

Bolt joins an increasing list of top athletes set to miss the Games, the biggest event to be held in India since the 1982 Asan Games and a launchpad to a potential bid fror the 2020 Olympics.

Jessica Ennis, Britain's world heptathlon champion, has already pulled out because she does not want her preparations for the 2011 to be compromised.

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