Edinburgh : Scottish tennis player Elena Baltacha pulled out of Scotland?s squad for the Commonwealth Games, terrified that Delhi?s well-documented problems could cause serious damage to her health.
The 27-year-old was considered a good medal chance for Scotland but after seeing pictures of the squalor inside the athletes? Village and consulting doctors about what that could mean for her chronic liver condition, she made the painful decision to stay away.
?It was such a difficult decision because I was so looking forward to Delhi. I was so excited about it. I am very passionate about representing my country, but at the same time I have got to consider my health, so for me it was a risk going to Delhi,? the world No.50, who was in Tokyo was quoted as saying by Herald Scotland.
Baltacha has had to cope with a liver condition since she was a teenager and after some soul-searching and discussion with her coach, Nino Severino.
?With everything that?s going on in Delhi right now, with the hygiene [problems], it all worried me because with my liver condition, because it is immune-based, I am more susceptible and the slightest thing can cause me a lot of problems,? she said.
?I?m playing some of my best tennis, I?ve managed to get a great balance where I?m staying healthy, and to go and have the chance of picking something up is pretty high, especially in my case. To think that maybe next week I?d be sick and have to try to get better, to jeopardise my form, that?s why I decided not to go.?
Having broken into the world?s top 50 for the first time, she believed she had a good chance of a medal, only for conditions in Delhi to conspire against her.
?You?d think that where the athletes are meant to be staying, they would get that right, and they haven?t,? she said. ?We prepared very well but the most difficult thing is if where we?re meant to be sleeping and living for that week [is so unhygienic], it?s a big threat.?