Cox (left) had helped out in promoting the Commonwealth Games

Scottish medal hope Adam Cox has pulled out of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, citing the sacking of head coach Tan Jai En by Scottish Gymnastics.

"As soon as I found out that Tan was not going out, there was not really any decision in it for me," said.

"Obviously I am completely gutted. The timing could not be worse.

"I don't understand how it has all come about that, four days before a competition, the top coach in Scotland suddenly does not have a job."

The future of the Games itself is in doubt, with Team Scotland among several countries concerned about poor facilities and safety.

Several athletes have taken individual decisions to withdraw as a result, but Cox explained that his decision was down to the sacking of his coach.

This does not make any sense. The way it has been done is absolutely ridiculous Adam Cox

"Gymnastics is one of those sports where the bond between a gymnast and a coach is so strong that it takes years to build up together," he told BBC Scotland.

"So that I have confidence in the coach, that he knows what he is doing, he knows how to catch me and knows what training programmes I need to be doing.

"Because really, at the end of the day, if I fall off that bar, I need to know that the person catching me is going to be the one that saves my life really."

Cox had high hopes of at least repeating his success four years ago in Melbourne but cannot say whether other Scottish gymnasts will follow his lead.

"I won a bronze at the last Commonwealth Games and was looking very strong to medal again," he said.

"We were all looking forward to getting out there, training was going really well, but it does not look like it is going to happen.

"I can only speak for myself. But, from where I am standing, I am not going to go anywhere without my coach."

Jai En, the first gymnast to execute a triple back dismount on the high bar, also coached the Scottish team at the the 1998 Games.

Cox explained that the sacking came out of the blue.

"We were down at a training camp at Lilleshall this week and we were informed yesterday morning that our coach for the Commonwealth Games no longer had a job with Scottish Gymnastics," he said.

"Which, to be honest, was an absolute nightmare for pretty much everyone involved in the team because we have been working so hard in the build up to the Commonwealth Games and getting ready for it.

"Training has been going so well, so it is a massive shock.

"This does not make any sense. The way it has been done is absolutely ridiculous."

Nobody from Scottish Gymnastics was available for comment.

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