Caster Semenya will not compete in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi due to a back injury.
The 800m runner, who was a big contender for the gold medal, has been suffering with back pain during her last few races.
However the South Africa Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) has only been made aware of the injury in the last couple of days and a scan on Semenya's back highlighted the problem.
While she would have been one of the big draws for the tournament but there were fears that competing over the next couple of weeks could harm her chances for the World Championships next summer.
South Africa's team doctor Shuaib Manjra wrote on Sascoc's website: "It would serve no purpose to have an athlete in Delhi who was struggling with any sort of injury that would compromise performance.
"It is our medical view that physically and emotionally she would not be capable of doing justice to her talent at an event of this magnitude."
The nineteen year old only returned to action earlier this summer having been forced to miss most of the season due to gender issues.
Semenya powered to 800m World Championship gold back in 2008 and was one of the big names at the Commonwealth Games.
But Semenya becomes the latest in a long line of athletes, including Usain Bolt, Philips Idowu, Jessica Enis and Jenny Meadows, who have all chosen to skip the Games.
The Commonwealth Games get underway 3rd October.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
by Helen Earnshaw
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