Bath trio respond to RFU decision
June 18 2009
Michael Lipman and two of his former Bath team-mates are "surprised and disappointed" to have been charged with drugs offences by the Rugby Football Union.
The governing body have accused Lipman, Alex Crockett and Andrew Higgins of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game "including taking prohibited substances and wilful refusal to take a drugs test", following an end-of-season celebration in London.
The trio, who deny the charges, had avoided a Bath disciplinary hearing on similar charges when they terminated their club contracts on June 1.
Australian lock Justin Harrison has also been charged by the RFU but he left Bath following allegations stemming from the same evening and has since retired.
"We are extremely surprised and disappointed both by the RFU's decision to convene a disciplinary panel and the terms of their statement," said Sports solicitor Richard Mallett, who spoke on behalf of the trio.
"Any charges brought by the RFU will be vigorously contested.
"This is a matter that we take very seriously and will do everything possible in order to clear our names.
"For legal reasons we are unable to comment further at this stage."
If the panel finds against them, Lipman, 29, Crockett and Higgins, both 27, could receive longer bans than the two-year suspension given to their former Bath team-mate Matt Stevens.
Club Chief Executive Bob Calleja also issued a statement, saying: "The club treats matters relating to drugs very seriously and we are perfectly satisfied that we acted correctly in requiring the players to explain themselves at an internal disciplinary hearing.
"They chose not to do so and, so far as we are concerned, our internal process is at an end, the players no longer being employed by the club."