NAIROBI: Kenya`s athletics squad for the Commonwealth Games was further decimated Tuesday by the late pull-out of Olympic 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop and women`s world 10,000m champion Linet Masai.

Officials said the athletes were suffering from fatigue and injury respectively.

Kenya`s squad is already missing men`s 800m world record holder, David Rudisha, and Olympic 5000m bronze medallist Edwin Soi, both of whom cited fatigue in pulling out of the October 3-14 championships in New Delhi, India.

Athletics Kenya secretary David Okeyo said Kiprop, who suffered a leg injury in training, would be replaced by African 1500m silver medallist Gideon Gathimba but added there would be no replacement for Masai.

Okeyo said he still hopes for a strong performance from the Kenyan squad.

"We should not panic because our big names are missing. We still have a very strong team and we expect our athletes to return home with medals and do the country proud," Okeyo said.

Kenya will also be represented in rugby sevens, boxing, swimming, cycling, squash, wrestling and table tennis.

BDST: 1508HRS, September 21, 2010