Nine weeks for Canadian eye-gouger
Canada's Ray Barkwill has been suspended for nine weeks for making contact with an opponent's eye area during his team's match against Romania in Bucharest last Saturday.
Following the match, Barkwill was cited for the offence, which was contrary to Law 10.4 (m).
The case was heard by judicial officer Roger Morris of Wales.
Having heard all the evidence, Morris upheld the citing complaint and considered the incident to be a low-end breach of the relevant law, which carries an entry-point ban of 12 weeks.
Considering aggravating and mitigating factors, including the player's previously clean disciplinary record, Morris imposed the ban of nine weeks, during which time the player is suspended from playing at all levels of the game during that time.
He has the right to appeal the decision.
* Meanwhile, from the same match, Romania's Mihai Macovei received a six-week suspension for striking an opponent in the face with his forearm.
At a hearing before judicial officer Simon Thomas of Wales, Macovei admitted the offence, which was contrary to Law 10.4 (a).
Thomas determined that the offence was at the top-end and originally imposed an eight-week ban. This was reduced by two weeks due to the fact that Macovei accepted the charge and admitted what he did.
As such, Macovei is now suspended from playing at all levels of the game until January, 26, and he has the right to appeal.
* In another incident from the game Canada player Jamie Cudmore was also cited for an alleged act of foul play contrary to Law 10.4 (a).
He was accused of making contact with an opponent's head with an open hand.
Having reviewed all of the evidence, Thomas considered the incident to amount to a low-end breach of the relevant Law, which carries an entry point of two weeks.
Thomas determined that there were no aggravating factors and considerable mitigating factors, including the player's acceptance of the act of foul play. He determined that in light of the level and type of offending, any sanction would be disproportionate.
Accordingly Cudmore is free to play immediately.
