Professor Arthur Tanner was barred from examining Tom Williams © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Dean Richards | Tom Williams

Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Teams: England | Harlequins | Leinster

Leinster team doctor Professor Arthur Tanner believes that the 'Bloodgate' scandal could have been averted had he been allowed to examine Harlequins winger Tom Williams' 'injury'.

Tanner, who was speaking at a General Medical Council fitness to practise hearing for Quins doctor Wendy Chapman, revealed that he was prevented from doing so by officials during their Heineken Cup quarter-final at the Stoop in April 2009. Williams had moments earlier bitten down on a fake blood capsule in an attempt to get recognised kicker Nick Evans back on the field as Quins trailed 6-5.

Chapman has admitted most of the charges levelled at her by the GMC and could be struck off for her part in the scam, having been pressurised into cutting Williams' lip to cover up the deception.

"Had I been able to inspect the mouth it would have been obvious that there was no injury and no-one would have had to inflict an injury," Tanner said. "It would have been over in an instant. I have no doubt if we had been able to call their bluff and he was sent back on to the field then that would have been the end of it."

The Leinster medical staff was alerted when Evans began warming up at the side of the pitch minutes after limping from the field with an injury.

"One of the technical staff with me ran over as Tom Williams was coming off and said that cannot be a real blood injury," Tanner said. "I went over and it was quite obvious that what was coming out of his mouth was not blood. I knew instantaneously.

"I was remonstrating with the fourth official that there was something underhand but he was having nothing of it. When he [Williams] came off I asked that I be allowed at pitchside to examine the injury. I was obstructed from doing so by officials.

"I followed him down the tunnel after trying to argue with the referee and fourth official and getting nowhere. I went down to assess his injury as that was my right. I tried to enter the changing room. I was barred, I was not able to examine him. There was a lot of shouting. I could not hear what was being said apart from some expressions about keeping me out that I would rather not repeat."