Hockey: Scots handed bans for early return

FOUR of Scotland's top players, including two Olympians, have been handed a two-game international ban, the Scottish Hockey Union has confirmed.

Dundonian Niall Stott (East Grinstead), Fife-born Stephen Dick (Reading), plus Scottish internationalists Edinburgh-based Derek Salmond (Inverleith) and Cameron Fraser (Grange), all played for their clubs before the agreed rest period ended following the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

They are not included in the new-look squad for two Test matches in Spain on January 21 and 22. Veteran midfielders Mark Ralph (Kelburne) and Vishal Marwaha (Western) have retired from international hockey and Olympic goalkeeper Ali McGregor (Loughborough) is unavailable.

Scottish Hockey Union spokesman, Stuart Moffatt, said: "Niall Stott, Stephen Dick, Derek Salmond and Cameron Fraser all serve a two-match suspension for failing to adhere to the senior men's performance programme and returning to club action before the agreed rest period ended following Delhi."