- LONDON: Stade Francais prop David Attoub has lost his appeal against a 70-week ban for eye gouging.
- A three-man European Rugby Cup disciplinary panel heard his appeal in London on Wednesday and confirmed the original punishment.
Attoub was banned in January after being photographed with his fingers in flanker Stephen Ferris' eye during Stade Francais' 23-13 Heineken Cup defeat at Ulster on Dec. 12.
Attoub's previous record and his lack of remorse led to one of the heaviest bans for what is deemed the most serious misdemeanor in the sport.

