The Scot, who won three Olympic gold medals at Beijing in 2008, has claimed the expected addition of a European Championship to the cycling calendar as the reason he will be unavailable.

Sir Chris said: "It's a decision that's been forced on me by the nature of the qualification process for the London Olympics."

Olympic qualification points would be up for grabs at the European event, and Sir Chris said: "The Olympics has to take precedence over everything.

"I could turn up at the Commonwealth Games in October, but it'd hamper my preparation for the European Championships.

"And I wouldn't be at 100 per cent.

"The standard at the Commonwealth Games is so high that 95 per cent wouldn't be good enough, and it would be disrespectful to the event and the Scottish team."

Sir Chris, 34, has won a gold medal at each of the last two Commonwealth Games in Manchester and Melbourne.

He has been prompted to abandon the pursuit of more Commonwealth glory because cycling's world governing body the UCI announced in May that changes would be made to the Olympic Games qualification criteria, introducing continental championships alongside Track World Cup events and the Track Cycling World Championships.

The qualification period for London began after March's World Championships in Copenhagen and runs until the Melbourne event in 2012.

There is still no certainty when the European Championship - an event formerly restricted to riders under the age of 23 - will take place.

Michael Cavanagh, the chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland, said: "First and foremost we are bitterly disappointed for Chris himself.

"He is a fantastic supporter of Team Scotland, competing and winning medals in three Commonwealth Games and he is an inspirational ambassador for Scottish sport.

"Nobody will be more disappointed than him, not to be in Delhi wearing the Scottish jersey.

"He has been placed in a no-win situation by the UCI and British Cycling with their late decision and we fully appreciate that he must meet his Olympic qualification obligations.

"His passion, attitude and commitment on and off the bike has already stimulated a new generation of Scottish cyclists coming through for Delhi and beyond.

"We wish him well and hope he is able to achieve his ambition of finishing his career representing Scotland in Glasgow in 2014.

"The pressures on athletes competing at the highest level are immense and you can never take it for granted that people will be available or that they will win medals on demand.

"Despite Chris’s omission we are confident that we will have a strong committed team in Delhi and it now creates an opportunity for other cyclists to step up to the challenge of emulating their hero."

Nevertheless, is is setback for the Indian organisers already reeling from Bolt's announcement that the triple Olympic and world champion will not be taking part in the Games - which are due to open on October 3 - because they are too late in the calendar and could affect his preparations for the 2011 World Championships in Dagaeu and London 2012.

A similar reason for not making the trip to the Indian capital was given by England's world heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis.