Olympic silver medallist Katarina Johnson-Thompson has withdrawn from the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow through injury, one of several high-profile British athletes pulling out on the eve of the opening ceremony. She has been joined in withdrawing from Team England's squad by sprinters Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita, along with Matt Hudson-Smith and Amber Anning, dealing a blow to an event already facing questions over its standing given other notable absences, including Keely Hodgkinson and St Lucia's Julien Alfred.

Johnson-Thompson, 33, had been due to compete in her third Commonwealth heptathlon, having won gold on the Gold Coast in 2018 and in Birmingham in 2022; she has been replaced by Niamh Emerson, the 2018 bronze medallist. Organisers gave no details of her injury. The Games have also been hit by the late confirmation of dates, only settled in October after original host Victoria, Australia, pulled out in 2023, and by clashes with rival events such as August's European Championships in Birmingham. Despite this, officials including Glasgow 2026 chief executive Phil Batty and Commonwealth Sport's Katie Sadlier insisted the event, which begins with track and field on Monday, would still be a success, pointing to emerging talent and home hopes such as Josh Kerr and Eilish McColgan.