Dry vows to fight on after ban

Hammer thrower Mark Dry says he will continue his fight to clear his name after being given a fouryear ban for a breach of the doping rules.

The 32-year-old double-Commonwealth medalllist, from Burghead, admitted lying about his whereabouts at an initial hearing before the independent National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) in October last year. The panel dismissed the charge against Dry, but UK Anti-Doping appealed this decision.

The Scot has no right of appeal but will not give up his fight to prove his innocence, saying: “I’ve given most of my life and all of my heart to this sport.

“I’ve been a lifelong fighter of doping in sport and would never do anything to intentionally harm my own reputation and the sport I love.

“I cooperated fully from the start and have even admitted my fault but the punishment does not even remotely fit the crime.”

Hammer thrower Mark Dry says he is heartbroken at being given a four-year ban rom the sport.

The 32-year-old double Commonwealth medallist believes the ban metered out after UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) won its appeal against a decision to clear him “offends against fairness and justice”.

Burghead athlete Dry had admitted wrongfully claiming he had gone fishing on the day he missed a drugs test in October 2018, despite a neighbour at his Shepshed address having told inspectors he had travelled to Scotland.

Dry pointed out athletes are allowed three such failures within a 12-month period and that, had he not written to Ukad making the false claim, no action would have been taken against him.

Dry said: “I am very disappointed with the decision and heartbroken by it. The tribunal at first instance understood the evidence and the explanations I provided and dismissed all charges.

“I simply cannout understand how a different panel would arrive at a four-year ban conclusion, given that the authorities of the Court of Arbitration for Sport clearly indicate the misinformation I provided does not amount to tampering.

“With their letter of October 18 2019, Ukad made a promise to me that a filing failure bears no consequences. Had I stayed quiet, by not responding to their letters, there would have been no consequences.

“This does not make any sense and it is so unfair. It is so overtly wrong it offends against fairness and justice.”

“I am very disappointed with decision, heartbroken”