Australia flanker Michael Hooper is free to play against the All Blacks next Saturday after his one-week suspension was confirmed on Sunday.
Hooper was handed the ban by the judicial officer, after six hours of deliberations earlier in the week, for striking Argentina's Nicolas Sanchez in last weekend's Rugby Championship clash in Mendoza.
The suspension was then reduced to one week because of Hooper's exemplary record, but SANZAR appealed the decision on the basis it was too lenient.
SANZAR were not the only organisation to appeal the ban, with the ARU lodging an appeal of their own, saying the ban was made in error.
Both appeals were unanimously dismissed by a three-man committee on Sunday.
"The committee... dismissed the appeal brought by SANZAR that the judicial officer's sanction of one week was unduly lenient," read a SANZAR statement.
"The committee found the judicial officer was correct in the exercise of his discretion that the offending was low-end. As such, the player's suspension from all forms of the game for one week was confirmed."
The suspension ruled Hooper out of a domestic game with Manly over the weekend but he is now free to play for the Wallabies in their Rugby Championship decider against New Zealand in Sydney next weekend.
"Glad it's wrapped up and I can really look forward to this week and moving forward into the first Bledisloe," Hooper said in comments published by the ARU on its website.
"It's been a little bit tough but I have been preparing as if I've been right to play and I'll be trying to get into the team for this week."
