France prop Pieter De Villiers will not be allowed play rugby until after the Six Nations championship, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) said today.
De Villiers this week escaped punishment for testing positive for cocaine and ecstasy.
The French rugby federation's disciplinary committee decided that he could not be banned on doping grounds on a technicality as out-of-competition testing for stimulants such as cocaine are not allowed under French law.
"We believe that Pieter de Villiers has shown unsuitable behaviour and that he should be withdrawn from all rugby activity until the end of the Six Nations Tournament," FFR president Bernard Lapasset said.
The South African-born prop was dropped after testing positive for drugs on December 18th.
De Villiers denies willingly taking the drugs. He claims his drink might have been spiked when he was celebrating a club win in a nightclub.
He was replaced in the France squad by Christian Califano for the defeat against England.
The player is expected to make his return on the weekend of April 5th-6th.