When Tom Williams, a rugby player for the Harlequins of London, began bleeding from the mouth during a critical moment in the quarterfinal of the Heineken Cup, a stoppage of play was called and a substitute filled in for him. Little did anyone know that Williams had chewed a blood capsule and that the trick was orchestrated by two other team officials. To top it off, Williams—who was caught on camera winking to fans while he "bled" from the mouth—is rumored to have had a team doctor actually cut his cheek with a scalpel and then stitch up the wound as a way to add credibility to the deception. Two team officials have been suspended for two and three years, and Williams is facing a yearlong suspension. The doctor accused of helping Williams fake the injury may also face an inquiry. Sports journalists and rugby fans worry that their sport may take years to recover from the scandal.
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