Thom Evans not yet eligible to represent Scotland at Glasgow 2014

By STUART BATHGATE
Published on Tuesday 21 February 2012 00:00

THOM Evans will need special clearance from the Commonwealth Games Federation if he is to realise his dream of running for Scotland at Glasgow 2014, as he is not automatically eligible.

The former rugby international qualified for Scotland as grandfather Fred Thom was born here, but the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has different eligibility rules.

The CGF used to use the grandparent rule, but decreed a decade ago that competitors must either be born in a country they wish to represent, have a parent born there, or have been resident in the country for five years immediately prior to the Games. Evans, born in Harare, Zimbabwe, lived in Scotland as a Glasgow Warriors player, but has since been largely resident in London.

The 26-year-old was back in Glasgow at the weekend to compete in the Scottish National Indoor Championships at the Kelvin Hall. He ran a personal best in the final of the 60 metres, finishing fourth, and since late last year has been training with Margot Wells, whose husband Allan won the Olympic 100m in 1980. “We’re aware of the issue, but we wanted to get the first race out of the way,” Wells said yesterday. “It’s being taken care of. He’s been training with me for three months, and I will do everything in my power to get him running for Scotland.”

Although he was a promising athlete as a schoolboy and has progressed quickly since beginning to train with Wells, Evans still has some way to go before coming into contention for a place in the Scotland team. Time is on his side, however, as the qualifying period for the team has not yet begun, and there are still 17 months before the CGF deadline for dealing with eligibility issues. Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) is aware that the Evans case would need to go to the CGF. “It is the responsibility of all Scottish governing bodies to highlight at the earliest possible stage any potential issues in respect [of eligibility], so that CGS can make the necessary representation to the CGF if appropriate,” a CGS spokesperson said.

The CGF has a track record of being sympathetic in cases such as that of Evans in which an athlete’s allegiance to a country is already established. Nonetheless, every application is assessed on its individual merits, and there is no guarantee that the ten-times-capped former winger, who was forced to retire from rugby after suffering a life-threatening injury two years ago, will be cleared to compete in 2014.

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Fly

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 11:47 AM

I find the level of media coverage about this is a joke. Much respect to Thom Evans for recovering from his neck injury but his sprinting at present is poor. Where is the promotion in the media of the large number of athletes that would cuff Evans. He couldn't break 7.2, a decent 60m time is around 6.8 and internaional standard starts below 6.7. He is a name, has a good coach and a world class girlfriend but he is poor at this time in his new sport. Wait until he proves himself before he gets this level of coverage.

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bjvdiso8g9d

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 11:22 AM

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Huntly Loon

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 01:49 AM

Go on. Somebody give him a spare room to store his stuff so he can be classed as Scottish.

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YES - IT'S ROCKET SCIENCE, FOLKS!

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:40 AM

Pity Scotland's fastest man, Nick Smith - now in NZ hoping to qualify to run for the Kiwis hasn't been afforded such support! Thom Evans has no chance whatsoever of reaching qualifying standard, anyway. YIRSF

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