Fallon faces failed drug-test hearing

Kieren Fallon is set to face a hearing before the French racing authorities next month after his legal team received notification a B test sample has confirmed a failed drugs test in August.

The six-times champion tested positive for a banned substance after the win of Myboycharlie in the Prix Morny at Deauville.

His solicitor Christopher Stewart-Moore told The Times: “I had a letter at the weekend that confirmed the positive findings.

“The letter tells me that the Medical Commission wish to meet in January to consider the case. I have instructed our French legal counterparts to request all the relevant data before we decide on our next step.”

Fallon – recently acquitted along with five others of conspiracy to defraud by a jury at the Old Bailey – has previously served a six-month suspension imposed by France Galop for testing positive for a metabolite of a prohibited substance in June 2006. He was suspended from December 7, 2006.

As the Irish Turf Club, under which he is licensed, have an agreement with other racing jurisdictions to reciprocate bans of this nature, he was also unable to ride in Ireland.

Jump jockey Dean Gallagher was banned for 18 months by France Galop when he failed a second drugs test in 2002.