Chris Ashton's hopes of playing for England in the Six Nations Championship this season are over.
An independent appeal committee has decided not to allow an appeal by the Saracens wing against a 10-week suspension, European Professional Club Rugby announced.
Ashton was banned after being cited for making contact with an opponent’s eye during a European Champions Cup match between Saracens and Ulster last month. Ashton will be free to play again on March 28th.
In a statement, EPCR said: "An independent appeal committee has today (Thursday) announced its decision not to allow an appeal by the Saracens player, Chris Ashton, against the 10-week suspension imposed on him as a result of a citing complaint arising from his club's European Rugby Champions Cup round five match against Ulster Rugby on Saturday, January 16.
“Ashton’s suspension therefore remains in place, and he is free to play on Monday, 28 March, 2016.
“The appeal committee consisting of Lorne Crerar (Scotland), chairman, Rod McKenzie (Scotland) and Roger Morris (Wales), heard the player’s appeal in London yesterday before adjourning to give the matter further consideration.
"At last month's disciplinary hearing, the independent judicial officer, Jean-Noel Couraud (France), found that Ashton had committed an act of foul play that warranted a red card in that the player had made contact with the eye(s) and/or eye area of the Ulster Rugby centre, Luke Marshall, during the match at Allianz Park in contravention of Law 10.4 (m)."
Ashton pulled Marshall to the ground with his left arm in the first half of the game, while also grabbing the Ireland international’s face with his right hand.
The judicial officer viewed the tackle as a red-card offence that exposed Marshall to the risk of serious injury, but Saracens contended that 10 weeks was too severe a punishment for the incident.
Ashton's impressive club form had seemingly put him on track for a Test recall this term, with England opening their Six Nations campaign against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
The 28-year-old has not represented England since June 2014, having scored 19 tries in 39 Tests, and that wait is now set to continue.
Bath's Anthony Watson and Exeter's Jack Nowell are the wings chosen by new England head coach Eddie Jones to start in Edinburgh.
This season’s Six Nations ends on March 19th, nine days before Ashton can play again, although he will be available for Saracens’ Champions Cup quarter-final against Northampton on April 9th.
