Doctor Wendy Chapman became the latest casualty of rugby union's 'bloodgate' scandal on Wednesday when she was suspended by the General Medical Council (GMC) for deliberately cutting the lip of Harlequins winger Tom Williams.

Williams claimed that he asked Dr Chapman to cut his lip with a scalpel after faking a blood injury during Harlequins European Cup quarter-final with eventual winners Leinster so the English club could send back on All Black kicker Nick Evans.

Williams - who was ordered by disgraced director of rugby Dean Richards to bite on a fake blood capsule - was frightened that the suspicious Leinster doctor would discover the cheating.

The GMC confirmed that Dr Chapman had been suspended.

"Dr Wendy Chapman has been given an interim suspension," said a GMC spokeswoman.

"We are not able to confirm what it is in relation to due to our duty of confidentiality.

"At this stage, there are no formal allegations that the doctor is facing. The interim suspension does not necessarily mean that the doctor will go before a Fitness to Practise Panel."

She said the GMC had up to 18 months to consider whether to take action against Dr Chapman.

Richards earned a three year global ban for his actions - effectively he said ending his career in the sport which had seen him enjoy a distinguished playing career - while the club were fined STG250,000 ($A477,008) but retained their spot in this season's European Cup.

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