Tweddle, Smith and Keatings to miss Commonwealth Games

WORLD champion Beth Tweddle will not be bidding for a second Commonwealth Games gold medal after British Gymnastics confirmed they would not be sending their top stars to Delhi next year.

MISSING OUT: Beth Tweddle will not be bidding for a second Commonwealth Games medal in Delhi next year (Getty Images)

Tweddle, who captured asymmetric bars gold at Manchester 2002, collected the second world title of her career in October, adding the floor title to the asymmetric bars crown she won in 2006.

But she, along with Olympic bronze medallist Louis Smith and world silver medallist Dan Keatings, have become the latest big name athletes from the home nations, who will be unavailable to compete in Delhi.

The artistic gymnastics competition in Delhi takes place from October 4-8 and the rhythmic events from October 12-14, with the World Championships of the former beginning on October 17.

And British Gymnastics performance director Eddie van Hoof revealed there were other concerns aside from the scheduling clash.

"It's not just the travel and jet lag but the potential for tummy bugs and diarrhoea that exists in making the trip," he said.

"We just cannot afford to take the risk when so much is at stake."

There have already been a number of high profile athletes who have suggested they will not  compete at Delhi 2010.

"I am not sure what I am going to do next year really but the European Championships will be my priority," said world 800m bronze medallist Jenny Meadows. 

"Once they are over with I will see where I am and see how I feel in terms of the Commonwealth Games.

"With it being World Championship year in 2011, again, I need to make sure I am going to be in the best shape I can be for that event. As a result, I am not sure whether I will do the Commonwealths.

"I need to be competing and testing myself against the best athletes I can and the European Championships is the best opportunity to do that next year."

And world heptathlon champion Jess Ennis also admitted she may well swerve the Commonwealth Games in favour of the European Championships.

"At the moment I think I'm going towards the Europeans but it is something I will have to discuss with my coach," said Ennis, in the aftermath of her victory in Berlin.

Sprint king Usain Bolt also remains lukwewarm about the likelihood of competing in Delhi.

Similarly, British Cycling executive director Peter King has admitted the Commonwealth Games are not a priority with the opening ceremony scheduled for the same day as the final event - the men's road race - of the Road World Championships in Melbourne.

"It's unfortunate that there's a bit of a dates clash with the Commonwealth Games next year," said King.

But British Swimming have confirmed they will be making all their big names available for selection and Dame Kelly Holmes, president of Commonwealth Games England, has implored the nation's finest not to miss out.

"Don't miss out on the opportunity to succeed and to win medals," she said. "Don't make the assumption that your athletes or players or sportspeople will not want to go to Delhi.

"The Commonwealth Games are an important event. Remember the value, too, of a multi-sport Games. Nothing can substitute for that experience."