Lions legend Brian O’Driscoll has been banned for three weeks for stamping.
O’Driscoll had been cited following an incident with Italian flanker Simone Favaro during Ireland's 22-15 defeat in Rome on Saturday.
The Ireland centre was sinbinned for bringing his foot down on Favaro's chest just before the half-hour mark at the Stadio Olimpico as his side lost to the Azzurri for the first time since 1997.
O’Driscoll was found guilty of the offence at a disciplinary hearing in London earlier today and has been suspended until April 8.
His actions were deemed to be a mid-range offence, with the minimum ban set at five weeks.
The 34-year-old had that reduced by two weeks, however, as a result of his 'exemplary previous playing and disciplinary record', with Saturday’s indiscretion resulting in just the second yellow card of a 14-year playing career.
O’Driscoll will miss Leinster's RaboDirect PRO12 games against fellow title contenders Glasgow and Ulster and their Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final at Wasps on April 5.
He will be free to play in the final three league games of the regular campaign, as well as the semi-finals and finals of the PRO12 and the Challenge Cup should Leinster reach that stage of the season.
