Star power lacking in Delhi

NEW DELHI, Oct 2 AFP - The Commonwealth Games athletics programme has been seriously diminished by the no-show of many top names, leaving lesser lights to battle it out for the 52 gold medals on offer. The list of withdrawls has steadily grown as the Sunday opening ceremony approaches, with South AFrica's scandal-hit world 800m champion Caster Semenya Caster Semenya the most recent casualty.

She joins high-profile pull-outs such as Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell.

Bolt shut down his season early to prevent an injury after tightness in his lower back, dealing a major blow to organisers.

The Jamaican, who won the 100m and 200m gold medals in world record times at the Beijing Olympics, said he prefers to focus instead on next year's world championships in South Korea and the London Olympics in 2012.

His compatriot and arch-rival Powell will also be missing, opting not to defend the 100m title he won four years ago in Melbourne, citing the timing of the event late in the season.

Other drawcards out include England's marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe, who gave birth to her second child last month, and world and European heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis.

English Olympic 400m gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu, world triple jump champion Phillips Idowu and Australia's world discus champion Dani Samuels all opted out amid health and security fears.