The doctor at the centre of the “Bloodgate” scandal at Harlequins has been suspended from practising medicine pending further investigations into her conduct.

Wendy Chapman, a hospital consultant, has been forbidden by the General Medical Council (GMC) from working as a doctor amid allegations that she deliberately cut the lip of Tom Williams, the Harlequins wing, with a scalpel in order to cover up his attempt to fake an injury using a capsule of red theatrical dye.

She is the latest casualty of the affair, a line under which — from a rugby perspective — was drawn last week. The RFU, to whom the case had been referred by ERC, the organiser of the Heineken Cup, and Judge Jeff Blackett, its disciplinary officer, ruled that no charges should be brought against the club or individuals.

However, its judgment did not cover Chapman, whose conduct both ERC and the union believed was outside their jurisdiction. Chapman, 45, was the match-day doctor last April when Harlequins played Leinster in the Heineken Cup quarter-final. Dean Richards, the club’s former director of rugby, ordered Williams to feign a blood injury. Richards was banned for three years from rugby and Steph Brennan, the physiotherapist, for two. Charles Jillings, the Harlequins chairman, resigned.

In evidence to ERC’s original inquiry, Williams said that he had asked Chapman to cut him in order to provide evidence of a genuine injury. He had left the field with blood apparently gushing from his mouth.

Misconduct charges against the doctor were dismissed last month by ERC’s independent disciplinary panel, but the GMC, which regulates all 150,000 practising doctors in Britain, said that Chapman had been suspended while investigations continued.

“Dr Chapman has been suspended by the Interim Orders Panel,” the GMC said. “This is not a finding of fact, and no charges have been made. Our investigations are continuing and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.” Chapman is an accident and emergency consultant at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.

Judge Blackett moved swiftly yesterday to prevent another potentially damaging incident for rugby from escalating. It involved David Lemi, the London Wasps wing, who was photographed jumping into the air and gesticulating with the middle fingers of both hands pointing into the air after his club beat Bath 17-15 on Saturday.

Bath had missed a conversion in the nineteenth minute of added time, which would have drawn the game level. After Bath fans had protested to Twickenham, Blackett asked Wasps to investigate, which resulted in Lemi issuing a public apology yesterday.

“I really regret any gestures that may have caused any supporters or players offence at the game on Saturday,” Lemi, who joined Wasps from Bristol this season said. “The game was extremely tense and very emotional for me personally. I lost myself in the emotion of the win at the final whistle. It was not my intention to offend ... and I would like to apologise for my actions.” Blackett was satisfied with Lemi’s response but he warned the player as to his future conduct. Lemi suffered a wrist injury that will keep him out for six weeks.

England will revert to a traditional all-white strip this season. The kit, unveiled today, includes a jersey with an open-neck collar and carries the motto: “Rugbeia floreat ubique” — rugby flourishes everywhere.