By Mike Stanger

Docherty in action for Scotland

The 23-year-old, who has played for the top Dutch league side Klein Zwitzerland for the past two seasons, was disillusioned by his omission from the Great Britain squad for Sydney in 2000.

He quit Scotland's domestic scene four years ago to raise his game and improve his chances of Olympic selection.

But his prospects of winning a medal with Holland are much greater.

The talented Edinburgh-born player, whose quality has been recognised more than once as player of the tournament at various international events, is involved in a heart-breaking dilemma as to where his best Olympic interests lie.

"It's not been an easy decision," he said. "But I'm looking at my future, at the greater part of my hockey career - and after that.

"With Great Britain, the Olympics are only one year in four, and with Scotland, we don't exactly have the greatest track record. I'm obviously disappointed I can't now go to the European Nations Cup with Scotland, but I've got to look at the bigger picture.

"I am fully aware of the risks involved," he added. "It's a little unfortunate the way it's happened, the timing of it all, and it's a shame for Scotland and GB.

"But I haven't actually ever played a capped international game for GB. I played two friendlies against Japan five years ago, and scored three goals, but I don't have even one GB cap to my name."

It sounds really selfish but I just want to play in all the world's top tournaments Laurence Docherty

Great Britain team leader Mike Hamilton, in South Africa with the England squad, was astonished by the news.

"This is the first I've heard of it. Laurence and I had a long discussion some months ago. I see his ability, performance and potential on the pitch, and I'm extremely disappointed."

Docherty missed out on the Great Britain squad that went to Canada earlier in the month for the first competitive tournament in the build-up to Athens.

But according to Hamilton, Docherty's absence in Canada was because the player had already been identified as a member of the core group of GB players who were certain to go to Athens.

A player changing his nationality cannot represent his new country until three years have elapsed since the change of nationality, unless prior written agreement is given by the national governing body (the Scottish Hockey Union) and the International Hockey Federation.

For immediate Olympic qualification, Docherty would have to seek the agreement of the FIH, the British Olympic Committee and the executive board of the International Olympic Committee.

The SHU's agreement is not required, but without it, Docherty would be unable to participate in any of Holland's pre-Olympic warm-up internationals - including the European Nations Cup where, ironically, both the Netherlands and England are in the same pool as Scotland.

An SHU spokesman said: "This is disappointing news in the build-up to the European Cup, and there will be discussions with the player to ensure that he has considered all his options and whether his decision is in his own best interests."