Austin Healey said he was "disappointed" by the decision of the British and Irish Lions disciplinary committee to find him guilty of bringing the tour into disrepute.
Healey was fined an undisclosed amount on Thursday over derogatory comments aimed at Australia and lock Justin Harrison before the decisive third test of the Lions' tour on July 14th.
In a Guardiannewspaper column attributed to the 28-year-old England and Leicester utility back, Healey described Harrison as a "plank" and a "plod".
"I am disappointed that the disciplinary committee, having accepted that I did not write nor did I say or agree what was written in the article, nor that I had the opportunity to check the article, still found that I was guilty of such a grave offence of bringing the tour party and the Lions into disrepute," Healey said in a statement on the Leicester club website today.
"Players clearly have to accept the responsibility imposed upon them when they enter into contracts to have newspaper columns written in their name.
"I should have checked what was being written in my name. Similarly if the management of the team allow players to enter into such contracts and retain the power to vet such columns, they should also ensure the process is carried out.
"I believe it would have been better if the disciplinary process had been carried out before the tour ended whatever the circumstances.
"I gave my total commitment to the tour and was disappointed in the way the charge was worded.
"However, I accept the penalty imposed by the disciplinary committee and I would like to take this opportunity to apologise for any negative affects this incident has had on the name of the 2001 Lions."
The committee said on Thursday they accepted Healey's defence that he had not seen or approved the article but said that he had breached his contract and players had to take responsibility for arrangements they made with media.