A consultant at Maidstone A&E has been named as playing a key role in the rugby cup "bloodgate" scandal by allegedly performing a cut on the player involved.

Harlequins winger Tom Williams claimed in his appeal hearing that Wendy Chapman cut his mouth with a scalpel while working as one of the match day doctors.

Earlier, Williams had bit into a blood capsule during the match in April, to allow another player to return to the field in the quarter final of the Heineken cup match between Harlequins RGC and Leinster in April.

Williams was initially banned for 12 months but this was reduced to four months on appeal.

In his appeal hearing, the player told a panel of the European Rugby Cup Disciplinary Appeals Committee he had bitten into the capsule successfully and was "not injured". As he left the pitch fellow players and officials followed him with some suggesting the blood was not real.

He added: "Wendy Chapman met me at the tunnel and escorted me into the club's medical room. I realised there was a risk someone would inspect my mouth. If they did it would have been clear that I had not suffered an injury.

"In the circumstances it seemed to me the only solution was to cut my lip. I believe it was at this point I asked Wendy to make the cut. I cannot recall what was said but I do remember she was not happy about it."

Williams told the hearing the consultant was a "victim" of events and had been extremely uncomfortable at being asked to make the cut.

The consultant has not yet had the opportunity of responding to the player's version of events.

A spokesman for the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust confirmed she is still working at Maidstone A&E and has not been suspended.

A spokesman for the General Medical Council said Chapman was still fully registered to practice as a doctor. The organisation would not confirm if any complaints had been received about the consultant, as confirmation a doctor is facing a conduct hearing is only given when a hearing is scheduled.