Toulouse have been docked two points and given a fine due to the financial irregularities around their signing of full-back Melvyn Jaminet in 2022.
The defending Top14 champions signed Jaminet from Perpignan in 2022 for a reported fee of €450,000, with the France international breaking his contract at USAP to link up with Ugo Mola's side.
While Jaminet only stayed at Toulouse for 18 months before joining Toulon in December 2023, the circumstances around his initial transfer were investigated by La Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), the body which runs the Top14 and second tier ProD2.
The LNR’s investigation over the transfer has run for some time, with the club paying a settlement of €1.3m in March of this year, while they have been further sanctioned this week for the breach of salary cap.
Toulouse, who have won the last three French titles, have incurred a two-point deduction and a €45,000 fine. Two further points and €15,000 of the financial penalty are suspended.
"Toulouse takes note of the decision issued by the French national league," the club said in a statement to AFP.
"The rulings handed down come at the end of a procedure whose methods have profoundly affected our image, and we regret this.
"Committed to our values of transparency and responsibility, Toulouse will, in the coming days and together with our advisers, assess the opportunity to appeal in order to uphold our rights," they added.
The points deduction sees the 24-time champions drop from first to second in the table, with Pau now leading the Top14 on points difference.
