Attoub suspension reduced

STADE FRANCAIS prop David Attoub has had his 70-week ban for eye-gouging reduced to 52 weeks by France’s Olympic Committee (CNOSF).

Attoub was handed the suspension for gouging Ulster’s Stephen Ferris in a Heineken Cup clash between the two sides at Ravenhill in December. His appeal against the decision was rejected by Heineken Cup chiefs but he then chose to appeal to the CNOSF.

They proposed that the ban be reduced by 18 weeks, and the French Rugby Federation (FFR) have accepted that proposal.