Journalist Paul Sheehan has been suspended from The Sydney Morning Herald following an unsubstantiated rape story he wrote about a woman named "Louise".

The story, published on February 22 and titled "The horrifying untold story of Louise", covered claims by 'Louise' that she had been raped and beaten by Middle Eastern men.

Today SMH editor in chief Darren Goodsir announced Sheehan would be stood aside from his duties until further notice.

Goodsir said his review of the column found "unacceptable breaches of fundamental journalistic practice".

On February 28, Sheehan issued an apology for the story and said key elements could not be substantiated.

"Nobody but her knows what happened, and although I was given a considerable number of details about her experiences that were credible, I acknowledge that there was not enough definite information to justify writing the story," Sheehan wrote.

Sheehan said he was wrong to have given her the benefit of the doubt and he did not consider that her story had been based on embellishments and fabrications.

'Louise' told Sheehan she had reported the alleged rape to NSW Police six months after the event but had been told by a police officer that it was too late and there was no evidence for a credible claim.

Sheehan admitted he "failed to test that claim adequately".

He then apologised to the NSW Police for creating an "impression of police indifference towards this alleged crime".

The article has since been retracted and Goodsir has apologised for the "hurt and distress it understandably caused".

The column received huge backlash on social media with many women claiming the story was catastrophic for sexual assault victims.

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