Top Jamaican athletes, including former world champion Asafa Powell and women’s 100m Beijing gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser, are doubtful for next year’s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

Bruce James, president of the MVP Track & Field Club to which the aforementioned names belong, said it was unlikely for the athletes to participate in the event as October was their rest season.

“No final decision has been made with regard to their participation in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, however the timing of the Games makes it unlikely for our athletes to run in New Delhi next year,” James told The Indian Express over the phone from Jamaica.

Meanwhile, sprint star Usain Bolt has not committed to Delhi either. The late scheduling of the Games (October 3-14) and a packed 2011 season are being cited as reasons accounting for the triple Olympic gold medallist’s dilemma. However, Bolt said the final decision regarding his participation would be taken by his coach Glen Mills.

“I don’t know (if I will be attending), you will have to direct that question to my coach, he determines what I do,” Bolt was quoted as saying by www.world-track.org.

However, when contacted, Mills refused to comment on the issue.

Explaining the uncertainty around Powell, who won three gold medals at the Melbourne Games, James said he and the other athletes were focusing on the 2011 World Championships in Korea. The athletes would have to begin their training for the event by the end of 2010, which would clash with the Delhi Games, he added.

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