Hammer ace Mark Dry says he is capable of winning third Commonwealth Games medal if given the chance by Scotland selectors to compete in Birmingham
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COMEBACK king Mark Dry won’t give up on competing at a fourth Commonwealth Games after returning from an athletics ban he calls a “miscarriage of justice”.
The Moray hammer thrower was back in the circle last month after three-and-a-half years out of action, due to a lengthy suspension imposed on him by the United Kingdom Anti-Doping authority (UKAD).
Banned for four years from athletics for nothing more than falsely reporting his whereabouts, the 34-year-old has fought tirelessly to clear his name.
He served a 28-month ban and was cleared to begin competing again last month.
In only his second competition back at a winter throws event in Essex on Sunday, the 34-year-old twice threw over the Commonwealth Games qualifying distance, including a 70-metre effort which won the competition.
He would dearly love to wear the Scotland vest for a fourth consecutive Commonwealths in Birmingham this summer, but knows he needs to gain selection first. He said: “I’ve done these two competitions to blow the cobwebs off and one of them has got the Commonwealth qualifying out of the way, so I am in such a good position moving forward.
“It’s all a bit weird because I’m not a big name, I’m just some lad from the Highlands but I have this rumbling side story that never seems to end and that is almost bigger than my career now.
“If I do make the Commonwealth Games and I come last, I will just be delighted to pull on a Scotland vest again. I can go out in a blaze of glory and as long as I try my hardest but don’t win, congratulations to those who beat me.
“But I’m in a great position now where I’m in good shape and I should be able to fight for a medal.
“As long as I can put myself in the position, I would like to be able to do what I’ve done before and put my experience to good use.”
