Times OnlineJanuary 25, 2008
Exclusive: Kieren Fallon banned worldwide for 18 months
Kieren Fallon may have run his last race after being found guilty of doping offences (Stephen Kelly/PA)
Rob Wright, Racing Editor
Kieren Fallon's roller-coaster career may finally have been ended as he has been given an 18-month ban after testing positive for a second time for a banned substance in France. The ban comes into effect in nine days' time and will stop Fallon, 43 next month, from riding worldwide.
The six-time champion jockey, who was recently cleared of race-fixing charges at a lengthy Old Bailey trial, was initially banned for six months by France Galop after a positive test at Chantilly in 2006. The French authorities took a dim view of Fallon's latest failure - reportedly for cocaine - which was recorded after the jockey landed a big-race success aboard the aptly-named Myboycharlie in the group one Prix Morny at Deauville last August.
Fallon, who had been banned from riding in Britain while the race-fixing case was ongoing, had been free to ride both in his native Ireland and France last year and had received the full support of his employers, the powerful Coolmore team. Fallon's final ride last year showcased all of his immense talent as he forced Dylan Thomas to a dramatic success in Europe's biggest race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October. It may well prove to be his final ride.
Fallon's career has brought joy and frustration in almost equal measure. Banned for six months after pulling fellow jockey Stuart Webster off a horse in September 1994, he hit the big time when gaining a first classic success on board Sleepytime in the 1997 1,000 Guineas, landing his first jockey's title in the same year.
In November 2007, he received £70,000 in damages after suing The Sporting Life for libel over the notorious Top Cees affair. He completed a rare Oaks-Derby double in 1999 on board Ramruma and Oath for his employer, Henry Cecil, before the pair parted company citing "personal differences" later the same year.
Typically, Fallon was quickly snapped up by another big yard as Sir Michael Stoute acquired his services for the 2000 season, the combination immediately clicking with the victory of King's Best in the 2,000 Guineas.
In January, 2003, he entered a rehab clinic after admitting alcohol problems, but yet again bounce back for a second Derby win the same year on Kris Kin. Another Oaks-Derby double followed in 2004 with Ouija Board and North Light, but in three months later he was initially detained as part of a police investigation into race-fixing.
Fallon was charged with conspiracy to defraud Betfair customers in July 2006 and banned from riding in Britain until the trial ended last month when he was cleared of all charges.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/spo...cle3252076.ece