Scotland flanker Martin Leslie has been banned for 12 weeks for kneeing an opponent in the head in Monday's World Cup pool B match against the United States, tournament officials confirmed this morning.
Tournament judicial officer Terry Willis said in a statement that New Zealand-born Leslie had been suspended until January 12th, 2004, ruling him out of the rest of the tournament.
Leslie had pleaded not guilty to the charge of kneeing US player Jason Keyter, arguing he had simply been trying to clear the centre out of a ruck.
But Willis disagreed, saying video replays showed there was enough room for Leslie to have avoided contact.
"I further find that after viewing the video that Leslie had ample space after dragging the American player down to avoid contact between his right knee and the head of the player," he said in a judgment issued by tournament officials.
"I accordingly find that Leslie intentionally used his knee on Keyter's head and accordingly find, on the balance of probabilities, him guilty of misconduct being striking an opponent with his knee," Willis said.
Willis added that Leslie's previously unblemished record had been a mitigating factor and prevented him from imposing the maximum ban of 18 weeks.
Scotland manager Doug Morgan said in a statement tendered in Leslie's defence that contact with Keyter had been accidental.
"There was contact ... but it was accidental and it was actually part of something we've been doing during the week in terms of a player who is coming over the top of the ruck," Morgan said.
Leslie came on as a replacement for Jon Petrie in the 52nd minute of a scrappy match, which Scotland won 39-15 on Monday. He is the second player to appear in front of a disciplinary panel at this World Cup.
Fiji winger Rupeni Caucaunibuca was suspended for two matches for punching France flanker Olivier Magne in the opening match in pool B.