by Alex Hoad

Lisa Dobriskey has abandoned hopes of defending her Commonwealth Games gold medal in India next month.

The 26-year-old Ashford AC runner leapt to prominence when she won the 1,500m in Melbourne four years ago but has opted not to defend her title due to injury, rather than the growing controversy over the capability of Delhi to host the event.

The former Southlands School pupil has endured an injury-plagued season and has struggled for consistency on the track, being edged out of the medals at the European Championships in Barcelona in July.

Dobriskey had planned to represent England in the 1,500m and 800m in a bid to get more competition under her belt in the build-up to the London Olympics.

However after missing last weekend’s Great North Run, Dobriskey has been advised to rest and recuperate ahead of the start of winter training with an eye on the 2011 indoor season.

While she was sidelined with a back injury at the start of the season it is a ligament injury - sustained at a Diamond League event in Zurich last month when she swerved sharply to avoid a collision on the final bend - which rules her out of competing in Delhi.

She said: "I was really looking forward to competing and I’d worked so hard to get back into shape.

"I’m really disappointed but I just ran out of time. I want to wish all the best to the athletes out in Delhi."

She insisted she had ‘never been bothered’ by the controversy surrounding the Games, which are due to begin in Delhi on October 3, but which have been beset by issues including building delays and allegations that athletes’ accommodation is unsuitable for habitation.