IAN Mackie, Scotland's leading 100 metres runner, has requested that he should not be considered for the 4 x 100 metres relay at the Commonwealth Games in September.

He plans to leave Kuala Lumpur early in order to run for his shoe sponsor in Japan that day. As a result, the Scottish squad in training for the event has been axed, prompting anger and disappointment from other members of the team.

John Anderson, manager of the Games athletics contingent said last night: ''We were prepared to consider a relay team only if our best sprinters, Ian Mackie and Doug Walker, were both prepared to commit to proper practice and preparation. With them, we had potentially a very good squad, but without Ian there will now be no formal entry. We won't ask the Commonwealth Games Council for men's relay places, and I have asked the other six or seven members of this potentially very exciting squad to stand down.

''Ian is one of Scotland's finest sprinters ever, and it's in our interests that he be given every encouragement to perform to his best.''

Elliot Bunney, the Olympic relay silver medallist, had come out of retirement in a bid to make the team after three previous Commonwealth appearances. He had been training with the squad including World 200m semi-finallist Walker, and was upset when informed there would now be no resources put into the event.

''I don't know whether to keep trying for an individual place,'' he said. ''If I don't, it's a waste of six months' hard work. I'm disappointed personally, but more for the younger members. I've been there and done it, but the Games experience might have been the making of them. I'm not saying I would even have made the team, but I do think the 20-year-old Scottish record was up for grabs.''

Walker was clearly angry. ''Ian is a fulltime athlete. I think it's a bit ridiculous that he can't find the time and commit himself, but if he'd rather run in Japan than for his country, that's up to him.''

Mackie said: ''I resent being labelled unpatriotic. I've com-peted for Scotland at every opportunity, including when I was injured and should not have run. I am going to the Games to run the 100 for Scotland, and possibly the 200 as well. I'm even having a pair of tartan spikes specially made.

''This has nothing to do with money. It is not a big-paying race. I am doing it as a thank-you to my shoe sponsor, Mizuno. They are based in Japan, and I have never raced there. During the whole 1995 season when I was injured, they stuck by me. This race is on the same day as the relay. In any case, I could not do the relay practices. I will be out of the country for all of June.

''It is all very well for Dougie to say I should be able to fit it in. When he gets on to the grand prix circuit - and I hope that is soon - then he will see how hard it is.''

Peter Carton chair of the management board of the Scottish Athletics Federation, said: ''This is very disappointing. The conflict between earning a living and representing your country is a great dilemma.''