An independent Appeal Committee has dismissed the appeal brought by Alesana Tuilagi against the decision of an independent Disciplinary Committee.
The independent Appeal Committee, chaired by Professor Lorne Crerar (Scotland) and also comprising Rod McKenzie (Scotland) and John West (Ireland), found the Leicester Tigers wing had not demonstrated the original decision had been in error, or that it should be overturned or varied, and accordingly the Appeal Committee dismissed the appeal and upheld the suspension imposed on the player of four weeks.
The independent Appeal Committee, chaired by Professor Lorne Crerar (Scotland) and also comprising Rod McKenzie (Scotland) and John West (Ireland), found the Leicester Tigers wing had not demonstrated the original decision had been in error, or that it should be overturned or varied, and accordingly the Appeal Committee dismissed the appeal and upheld the suspension imposed on the player of four weeks.
The independent Appeal Committee heard submissions made on behalf of Tuilagi and ERC's Disciplinary Officer before retiring to deliberate on the case.
The appeal was against the decision of the original independent Disciplinary Committee on Thursday, 23 April, 2009 which found Tuilagi guilty of foul play in that he had played Nick Abendanon without the ball in contravention of Law 10.4 (f) in the Heineken Cup quarter-final match against Bath Rugby at the Walkers Stadium on Saturday, 11 April, 2009.
Tuilagi’s ban expires on May 21.
