Steve Hooker leaves Commonwealth Games gig after wife banned for drugs

Steve Hooker has quit his duties as commentator for host Commonwealth Games broadcaster Network Ten, after his athlete wife was banned for drug use.

Middle-distance runner Katya Kostetskaya has been rubbed out for two years by the World Anti-Doping Agency, with the news coming as a shock to the Australian pole vault champion who has since left Glasgow.

Ten presenter Matt White announced on air on Thursday morning Australian time that Hooker wasn't aware of the information prior to it being logged on the agency's website and that he would return to Melbourne to be with his Russian-born wife.

Despite losing their highly regarded athletics commentator, Ten were supportive of Hooker's decision to leave the Games early.

Ten announced former Canadian world record holder and Olympic gold medal winner Donovan Bailey would join their commentary team for the remainder of the Games.

"Steve's priority is his family and he has left Glasgow to be with his wife, Ekaterina, and son Maxim. He has delivered brilliant commentary for the Games, and Network Ten fully supports his decision," said the statement from Ten.

Kostetskaya is suspended until January next year for the "use/attempted use of a prohibited substance/method", the agency's website says.

The runner's offence was listed as on August 30, 2011 - coinciding with her fifth placing in the 800m final at the world championships in Daegu.

Kostetskaya and the now-retired Hooker, an Olympic and world pole vault champion, met at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and married in 2012.