Pair Pull Out of Commonwealth Games Athletics

By the Editorial Team · Monday, July 27, 2026

Louie Hinchliffe and Charlie Dobson, both British Olympic athletics medallists, have withdrawn from the ongoing Commonwealth Games, adding to a growing number of high-profile English track and field athletes pulling out. Their absence, along with other top competitors, has significantly weakened England’s team and left notable events like the men’s 100m sprint with fewer elite contenders.

Louie Hinchliffe and Charlie Dobson have joined a growing list of British Olympic athletics medallists withdrawing from the Commonwealth Games, which are currently underway in Glasgow. Both athletes, representing Team England, cited reasons for their absence that have yet to be fully disclosed, marking the latest setbacks for the English track and field squad.

Hinchliffe, 24, who trains under renowned coach Carl Lewis, earned a bronze medal in the sprint relay at the Paris World Championships and made history as the first Briton to win the NCAA 100m title while studying in the United States. He recently secured third place in the 100m at the Novuna UK Championships in Birmingham. Dobson, 26, also claimed bronze as part of the 4x400m relay team in Paris.

Their withdrawals bring to eight the number of Olympic medallists who have pulled out of England’s athletics roster in the last week, following earlier departures by Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Dina Asher-Smith, Daryll Neita, and Amber Anning. These absences have significantly altered the complexion of England’s team as the athletics competitions begin at Scotstoun Stadium.

Hinchliffe’s decision not to compete leaves Elliot Jones, who posted a personal best of 10.04 seconds with a fifth-place finish at the UK Championships, as the sole English representative in the men’s 100m sprint. Meanwhile, Scotland’s Eilish McColgan, a prominent figure heavily featured in Games promotion and expected to be a highlight on the opening night, withdrew due to injury over the weekend.

In addition to these withdrawals, the athletics programme is missing other high-profile international stars, including Julien Alfred, the reigning Olympic 100m champion, and Botswana’s Olympic 200m champion, Letsile Tebogo, further reducing the number of top-tier competitors.

Despite the high-profile absences, organizers note that tickets remain widely available for events at Scotstoun, where athletes are competing under the support of funding partly derived from National Lottery contributions. These funds, raising over £33 million weekly, continue to back sport, arts, heritage, and community initiatives, as well as athletes participating in the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.