Golfer Elliot Saltman handed three-month ban

SCOTTISH golfer Elliot Saltman has been banned from the sport for three months after being found guilty of a "serious breach" of regulations at a Challenge Tour event in Moscow last year.

Saltman was accused of marking his ball incorrectly during the first round of the M2M Russian Challenge Cup on September 16, 2010.

The Edinburgh professional was disqualified from the event and yesterday attended a disciplinary hearing in Abu Dhabi.

A statement from the European Tour today read: "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 & 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."