Badminton: Blair back in Scotland fold after fall-out

Longniddry's Robert Blair, who defected to England eight years ago and competed in the 2004 Olympic Games, has been welcomed back to Scotland and could be a real force in helping badminton achieve major success in the run-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The Edinburgh-born player had his future career thrown into jeopardy a few months ago when he was mysteriously dropped from England teams and banned from the GB National training centre in Milton Keynes.

But he headed for the Scottish Training Centre in Glasgow and the 29-year-old doubles specialist is now part of a great set-up that also includes leading Lothian stars such as Emma Mason, Jillie Cooper, Martin Campbell and Paul van Rietvelde.

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"It is a culmination of a lot of things, but I am delighted to be back here," commented Blair. "The possibility of representing Scotland again, and especially at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, is very exciting. I enjoyed considerable success during my time with England but now it is great to be back. Scotland has always been my home."

Blair's ban is shrouded in controversy but he said: "The coaches said I had attitude issues, but the fact that nothing more has been done says it all."