Stade Francais prop David Attoub has been handed a 70-week ban by an independent judicial officer for "the worst act" of deliberate eye gouging.
The 24-year-old was found guilty of gouging Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris during the Province's 23-13 Heineken Cup victory over Stade at Ravenhill on December 13, 2009.
Attoub was found guilty of the offence on Friday, but the sentencing was delayed until Tuesday.
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Judge Jeff Blackett in his judgement said: "This is the worst act of contact with the eyes that I have had to deal with: it is a case of deliberate eye gouging."
His team-mate Julien Dupuy was handed a 24-week ban, reduced to 23 on appeal, for his role in the incident.
Attoub, who had previously served a suspension for gouging in a European match during the 2004-05 season, had pleaded not guilty to the offence although the incident was captured clearly in an image taken by a photographer at the match.
The authenticity of that image was disputed by Stade, but that claim was dismissed by the hearing.
The ban means Attoub will not be available to play again until April 22, 2011.
It is the second-most severe ban to have been handed out for a gouging offence in the professional era, exceeded only by the two-year ban handed to Colomiers prop Richard Nones in 1999.
Picture credit: Oliver McVeigh / SPORTSFILE
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