Stade Francais scrum-half Julien Dupuy has had his 24-week ban for eye gouging reduced by one week by an independent appeal committee.
The France international had been handed the original ban for gouging Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris during Stade's 23-13 Heineken Cup defeat at Ravenhill on December 12.
The suspension was condemned at the time by Stade president Max Guazzini, who described it as "excessive, very political and anti-French", and Dupuy chose to launch an appeal.
And while the committee did opt to reduce the sanction it is unlikely to prove much comfort to the six-time capped half-back.
The 26-year-old, who joined Stade from Leicester in the summer of 2009, will still miss France's entire RBS 6 Nations campaign despite the reduction.
Dupuy will be eligible to play again on May 27, effectively ruling him out of Stade's challenge for domestic and European honours this season.
The independent appeal committee, chaired by Professor Lorne Crerar of Scotland, found that Dupuy "had demonstrated that the original decision had been in error only in a limited and technical manner"."
The committee agreed with the original panel's decision that the offence was at the top end level of seriousness for an offence of this kind.
Dupuy's ban, and the slight reduction of it, are in line with a toughening up of sanctions for gouging offences following the furore which surrounded the eight-week ban handed to South Africa flanker Schalk Burger for gouging Ireland winger Luke Fitzgerald in the second British and Irish Lions Test last summer.
Leinster flanker Shane Jennings received a 12-week ban earlier this season for gouging London Irish lock Nick Kennedy in the Irish province's 12-9 Heineken Cup defeat on October 9.
The Ireland international appealed that initial decision but was unsuccessful.
Dupuy's Stade team-mate David Attoub was also due to appear before a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday, after the initial hearing into his gouging charge was adjourned to allow more evidence to be considered. The prop had been involved in the same incident as Dupuy.
Attoub's hearing was again adjourned after he and Ferris, who had also been asked to appear at Dupuy' hearing, had given evidence.
The ERC said the independent Judicial Officer will make a decision on Friday.
"If it is determined that an act of foul play occurred, the question of sanction will be dealt with separately at a later date," a statement said.
The day's other hearing, that of Perpignan prop Jerome Schuster, was adjourned due to weather-related travel problems.
The 24-year-old was charged with striking Munster number eight Denis Leamy during the visitors' 37-14 win at the Stade Aime Giral on December 20.
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