Leicester Tigers have received a blow with the news that prop Boris Stankovich has been banned from playing for three weeks.
The decision came at a Rugby Union disciplinary hearing in Coventry last night.
The 32-year-old was sent off for a high tackle on Darren Allinson during the LV= Cup game with London Irish last Sunday.
He was also cited for "stamping or trampling" on the Exiles' prop Alex Corbisiero before his dismissal.
Stankovich pleaded guilty to both counts and Judge Sean Enright suspended him from playing until December 12 - the week before Tigers travel to Treviso in round four of the Heineken Cup.
The news means that Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill will be without his most senior prop for Sunday's Aviva Premiership clash at Wasps plus the clash with Bath, on December 1, and the home Heineken Cup game against Treviso the week after.
Dan Cole, Martin Castrogiovanni and Marcos Ayerza are all away on international duty and Logovi'i Mulipola is battling a knee injury.
As a result, the club have bought in former Tigers player Michael Holford on loan from Nottingham as cover.
