Bath pair lose their appeal

Lipman: Banned for nine months

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Former Bath co-captains Michael Lipman and Alex Crockett have lost their appeal against nine-month bans.

A three-man Rugby Football Union panel took just under two hours to decide the suspensions for missing drug tests should stand.

The RFU hearing was the duo's last hope of having their bans reduced within the disciplinary structure of the game.

An RFU statement read: "On August 3, Bath players Crockett, Lipman and Andrew Higgins were found guilty by an RFU disciplinary panel of two charges of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game in failing to submit to drugs tests on two separate occasions when reasonably requested by Bath.

"Crockett and Lipman subsequently appealed against the decision and their appeal was heard today by the panel of Matthew Lohn (chairman), Philip Evans and Dr Julian Morris.

"The appeal was dismissed by the panel and the original suspension upheld, effective from June 1, 2009, the date they resigned from Bath. Crockett and Lipman can play again on February 28, 2010."

Scandal

The thrust of the players' appeal centred around three contentions - that there was no lawful basis for them to be requested by Bath to submit to extra testing, that the players had reasonable grounds to not take the tests and that their refusal to take them was not prejudicial to the game.

But the panel rejected the appeal on all three counts, believing it was entirely reasonable for Bath to request the extra test.

England flanker Lipman and Crockett were found to have failed on two occasions to undertake drug tests as Bath investigated allegations of misconduct during an unofficial end-of-season celebration in London on May 10.

In a statement later released through the players' solicitor, Lipman and Crockett - neither of whom was present at the hearing - voiced their surprise at the verdicts.

Richard Mallett said: "Michael Lipman and Alex Crockett are disappointed, surprised and upset by the RFU appeal panel's decision not to overturn their nine-month ban.

"The RFU have yet to indicate their reasons for rejecting the grounds of appeal.

"Until the RFU reveals to Mr Lipman and Mr Crockett why the appeal failed it is obviously difficult to comment further at this stage."

Meanwhile, Bath expressed their satisfaction at the outcome of the hearing.

A statement read: "Following the news that the Crockett and Lipman appeal was dismissed, Bath are satisfied that, while this hearing was no longer a club issue, it upholds the actions taken by the club at the end of last season and the original ruling by the RFU."

A third former Bath player, Higgins, opted against appealing, instead choosing to retire after also being hit with a nine-month suspension.

Former Australia lock Justin Harrison also resigned from the club after failing to take a drugs test and later received an eight-month suspension after admitting to taking cocaine.