FORMER BATH captains Michael Lipman and Alex Crockett have lodged appeals against the bans received for missing drug tests, while “devastated” Andrew Higgins has opted to retire.
The trio were suspended for nine months by an England Rugby Football Union (RFU) disciplinary panel, which dropped charges of drug use at the outset of the hearing.
They were found to have failed on two occasions to undertake drug tests as Bath investigated allegations of misconduct during an unofficial, end-of-season celebration in London.
Higgins (27), insisted his only concern was to be cleared of using drugs and he will now retire from the sport.
“Despite the fact that on the first day of the four-day hearing myself, Michael and Alex were all completely exonerated of any drug taking, the RFU disciplinary panel went on to find us guilty of failing and/or refusing to submit to internal drugs tests without reasonable cause on two occasions,” said Higgins.
“I’m deeply frustrated and totally devastated by that decision, a decision that has caused me to become profoundly disillusioned with the whole process.
“My main focus was always to clear my name in relation to any drug taking.
“This has now been done and I will not be taking the matter any further.”
But Lipman, an England international with 10 caps, and Crockett have lodged appeals against both the decision of the RFU disciplinary panel and the sanction.
The players’ solicitor, Richard Mallett, said: “Although on the first day of the four-day hearing Mr Lipman and Mr Crockett were completely exonerated of any drug-taking, the players were, nevertheless, suspended from playing rugby for nine months from June 2nd to February 28th 2010.
“The appeal has been lodged with the RFU against both the finding of fact and the sanction imposed.”
Lipman, Crockett and Higgins were among six players who were linked with allegations of drug use during the celebrations in London on May 10th.
Meanwhile, Ben Cohen has been tipped to rekindle his England career as he gears up for life back in the English Premiership with Sale after returning to England from French Top 14 outfit Brive.
The 30-year-old wing won the last of his 57 England caps against South Africa at Twickenham in November 2006 and believes a successful season at Edgeley Park could bring him out of the international wilderness.
Sale have been particularly hard hit by an exodus, as Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Jason White, Sebastien Bruno, Lionel Faure, Sebastien Chabal and Rory Lamont have all quit the club to join French outfits.
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