Stade Francais prop David Attoub has been banned from rugby for 70 weeks for gouging an opponent's eyes during a Heineken Cup match.

Attoub's teammate Julien Dupuy had already been banned for 23 weeks for a similar offence in the same match but disciplinary officer Jeff Blackett

behaviour constituted "the worst act of contact with the eyes that I have had to deal with."

Tournament organiser European Rugby Cup imposed the punishment on Tuesday, four days after finding Attoub guilty.

Attoub is banned until April 22, 2011, but can appeal against the sanction any time in the next three days.

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