Golf:Elliot Saltman has been banned from golf 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 Russian Challenge Cup in September.

He was disqualified from the event and yesterday attended a disciplinary hearing in Abu Dhabi along with his two playing partners in Russia - the English pair of Marcus Higley and Stuart Davis.

While playing in the qualifying school in Spain last November, the player admitted of breaking the rules in Russia.

"I accepted what was said at the time because I was in shock at the time and I didn't want to be labelled a cheat," Saltman, who has 28 days to lodge an appeal before the European Tour board, had said. "I am sorry now that I didn't stand up for myself. It affects not only me but my family.

"I don't want to be labelled as a cheat. Nobody wants that reputation."

Saltman and his brother Lloyd gained full membership on the European Tour in November.

"It was a very delicate issue and suffice to say in my time on the committee we never have had an issue like that and hopefully we won't again," tournament players committee member Paul Casey said this morning.