CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — British and Irish Lions prop Kyle Sinckler was cleared of a biting charge and freed to play on Tuesday in the series-deciding third test against South Africa.

Sinckler was cited for allegedly biting South Africa's Franco Mostert in a ruck in the second half of their second test last Saturday.

The incident was missed by the match officials but Mostert and captain Siya Kolisi complained to referee Ben O'Keeffe, who told them it would have to be dealt with after the match. The Springboks won 27-9.

Sinckler, at risk of a minimum three-month ban, denied an act of foul play worthy of a red card to an independent disciplinary committee in a video hearing. The committee checked multiple broadcast angles and agreed.

“The committee deemed that on the balance of probabilities, it could not be satisfied that the player committed an act of foul play,” it said in a statement. “On that basis, the committee dismissed the citing and the player is free to play again immediately.”

Sinckler had already been named in the reserves again for the third test on Saturday in Cape Town.

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