Henderson pulls out of Commonwealth Games

New Zealander Greg Henderson is the latest cyclist to withdraw his participation from the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, in October, citing concerns over illness and security at the event.

"It's not all about Greg Henderson, I've got a family now," Henderson told the New Zealand Press Association.

"I have to put them first and I don't feel 100 per cent sure about the environment over there.

"Anything could happen... Is my career, is cycling, worth it?"

On Thursday, Peter Kennaugh (Isle of Man), Geraint Thomas (Wales), Ben Swift (England) and Ian Stannard (England) all pulled out of the games. All four are team-mates of Henderson on the British-based Sky squad, although the team has asserted that it has not influenced individual riders' decisions to withdraw from Delhi.

Several teams, including Scotland, have delayed their departure to the games due to the unfinished state of the athlete's accommodation and facilities. The first of England's participants started arriving on Friday.

Henderson is the first New Zealand athlete to withdraw from the 2010 games. He won gold in the men's 30km points race in the 2002 Commonwealth Games held in Manchester. Henderson also won a stage and placed third overall in the Tour of Britain earlier this month.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games take place between October 3-14. 

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Thomas and Kennaugh pull out of Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games organisers under fire over athlete accommodation