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Dobriskey admits Commonwealths have been tarnished

Lisa Dobriskey will not race at the Commonwealths © Getty Images

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• Profile: Lisa Dobriskey

Lisa Dobriskey, the reigning 1500m Commonwealth champion, has admitted Delhi's facilities crisis has 'dampened the whole spirit of the Games'.

Dobriskey will not defend her 1500m title, citing a lack of fitness following her recovery from a back injury as her reason for withdrawal. She is joined on the sidelines by Christine Ohuruogu and Phillips Idowu, although the latter's agent claims Idowu may still compete.

England's Commonwealth team has faced some big decisions over whether to fly to Delhi, following serious concerns over the state of the Athletes' Village. A decision was taken late on Wednesday for the first part of the team to fly out on Thursday, and Dobriskey insists her team-mates must trust in the final decision of the CGE.

"The majority of the athletes I've spoken to all really want to go, but it has to be a decision made by the team management," Dobriskey told Sky Sports News. "All the athletes can do is get themselves as fit as they can be so that they're ready to go and race.

"All these other issues, you have to put trust in the team management. [The conditions] are a concern and a worry, but if the team management are happy with the situation then it will be up to standard. The athletes will then just focus on themselves."

Commenting on the situation itself, which has seen bridges and ceilings collapse in the past week, Dobriskey admits she fears the Games will be remembered more for the build-up than the competition.

"It is a surprise so late in the day, we haven't really come across this so far into preparations so it is strange, and it's a shame because it's dampened the whole spirit of the Games," she said.

"People have had to think about things they wouldn't normally have to think about. Normally you just focus on the sport, so it is difficult."

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