Rugby:Stade Francais prop David Attoub is to appeal his 70-week ban for gouging. Attoub was punished earlier this week for making contact with the eye/eye area of Ulster's Stephen Ferris during a Heineken Cup pool game in Belfast last month.
The 28-year-old is currently suspended until April 22nd, 2011. An independent appeal committee will be appointed as soon as practicable.
Attoub, who protested his innocence this week, has said he is “traumatised” by the ban.
Independent judicial officer Jeff Blackett, who imposed the suspension, decided Attoub’s offence was at the top end in terms of the level of seriousness.
Blackett described it as “the worst act of contact with the eyes I have had to deal with.”
Attoub’s Stade team-mate, France international scrum-half Julien Dupuy, was banned for 24 weeks by Blackett for a gouging offence in the same Ulster match, also on Ferris.