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Italy flanker Mauro Bergamasco was banned for 13 weeks after a disciplinary panel here today found him guilty of gouging the eye of Wales full-back Lee Byrne during the Azzurri's 47-8 Six Nations defeat in Cardiff last weekend.
The ban, which applies across all levels of rugby union, effectively ends the Stade Francais player's season as he will now not be able to resume playing until June.
He does, however, have the right of appeal, against a ban which rules him out of Italy's Six Nations matches away to France on March 9 and at home to Scotland on March 15.
A statement issued on behalf of the Six Nations here todaysaid: "Following a citing by the independent Citing Commissioner, Mauro Bergamasco, the Italy loose forward, has been suspended from playing for 13 weeks, from March 3, 2008, having been found to have deliberately placed his finger in the right eye of Lee Byrne, the Wales full back, in the 6 Nations match on Saturday.
"Bergamasco will be free to resume playing on June 2 2008, and has the right of appeal."
AFP