ELLIOT SALTMAN: Statement from the European Tour Tournament Committee

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE EUROPEAN TOUR
At a Disciplinary Hearing of The European Tour Tournament Committee in Abu Dhabi on January 18, 2011, the Committee unanimously found that Elliot Saltman had committed a serious breach of the 2010 Challenge Tour Members Regulation F 1 (b) 6 (Rules of Golf) during the first round of the M2M Russian Challenge Cup on September 16 2010 at Tseleevo Golf and Polo Club, Moscow, Russia.
It was the finding of the Tournament Committee that Elliot Saltman, who was disqualified from the M2M Russian Challenge Cup, be suspended from participating in all European Tour and Challenge Tour sanctioned tournaments for a period of three months, starting on January 19, 2011.
Under Challenge Tour regulations Elliot Saltman, who attended the Disciplinary Hearing in Abu Dhabi, has the right to lodge an appeal before the Board of The European Tour. This appeal must be lodged within 28 days.


COMMENT --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FROM THE GUARDIAN.CO.UK WEBSITE
By LAWRENCE DONEGAN
Elliot Saltman has been given 28 days to appeal against the decision. His representatives are believed to have spent most of today meeting with lawyers and further meetings are planned with a view to challenging the decision.
The worst-case scenario for the European Tour, which it will do everything it can to avoid, would be a prolonged court battle focusing on the issue of cheating in golf and on other cases in which rules were allegedly broken.
One such case was the infamous "Jakartagate" affair, in which Colin Montgomerie was accused of incorrectly replacing his ball after a rain delay at the 2005 Indonesian Open.
The former Ryder Cup captain was censured by the same tournament players' committee that delivered today's verdict.