The International Rugby Board has asked the French Rugby Federation to explain why the suspended Perpignan hooker Marius Tincu was allowed to play against Castres in a league game last weekend.
Tincu was banned from all rugby for 18 weeks after being found guilty of gouging the eyes of Ospreys prop Paul James in a European Cup game on October 18.
His club pleaded that the suspension should not apply to Top 14 matches but a European Rugby Cup Committee of Appeal turned this down on November 14.
Perpignan then took the case before the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, which ruled he was clear to play in French league games and this was accepted by the LNR, France's national professional league.
