Leicester Tigers winger Alesana Tuilagi has failed in his attempt to overturn a four-week ban.
Season over for Samoan unless his side can reach Heineken Cup final
Leicester Tigers winger Alesana Tuilagi has failed in his attempt to overturn a four-week ban.
The 28-year-old Samoan was found guilty of playing Nick Abendanon off the ball in the Tigers' Heineken Cup quarter-final victory against Bath on April 11.
Tuilagi appealed against the decision, but an independent disciplinary committee has upheld the original suspension, which runs until Friday May 22.
The decision means Tuilagi will miss Leicester's Heineken Cup semi-final at Cardiff on Sunday, but would be free to play in the final at Murrayfield on May 23 should his side progress.
He will also miss the Guinness Premiership semi-final against Bath on May 9 and the Premiership final on May 16, should the Tigers qualify for that as well.
