Venezuela.

Triple jumper Brian Wellman pulled out of the team on Tuesday night after speaking with Bermuda Track and Field Association president Judith Simmons about the injury from his base in Arkansas.

He was due to get an MRI on the knee yesterday and was initially hopeful of joining the team depending on the results.

"I'm all about athletes taking care of themselves,'' said Simmons who urged Wellman not to risk the injury.

"It's not always about a medal, it's about him taking care of himself. He is going to get an MRI and I advised him that if whatever comes out of it says he shouldn't compete then I think he needs to stay and get it treated. That's my position.'' Wellman, 30, was recently second in a meet in Germany but has not been having one of his better seasons. Still, he was seen as a good medal prospect at these Games. It remains to be seen if the injury will also keep Wellman out of next month's Commonwealth Games in Malaysia.

"He has the rest of his track future to look at and not jeopardise it for one or two meets,'' said Simmons. "It's more important that he gets healthy.'' The track and field team were delayed on their way to Venezuela after a two-hour delay in New York eventually forced them to miss their connecting flight from Aruba to Venezuela on Tuesday.

Tariq Hewey, Rohaan Simons and Ronan Kane, accompanied by manager Pat Lake and coaches Gerry Swan and Roger Dill, spent the night in Aruba and were due to fly to Venezuela last evening.

Terrance Armstrong and Atiba Tucker had already arrived from the United States.

BRIAN WELLMAN -- Injury casts shadow over Commonwealth Games.