The 18-month prohibition jockey Kieren Fallon received in January has been confirmed by an appeals court. According to the resolution of the three judges, who are part of a panel of 15 racing professionals, the six-time champion will not be able to ride in any country for the rest of this year.

“The initial ban has been confirmed. We had official confirmation today,” Herve Naggar, Fallon’s representative in France, said. “It is still 18 months, but I do not know the exact dates. It's a very long time. Of course I am disappointed but we knew it would be very hard to change the ban.”

Fallon received the suspension due to a positive test for a prohibited substance after he won the Prix Morny, at Deauville, on 19 August aboard Aidan O’Brien’s Myboycharlie. Only two months earlier, the jockey had made his comeback after completing a six-month ban for a former positive test.

Johnny Murtagh will replace Fallon as Ballydoyle Nº1 rider and Fallon came back to ride for his old boss Sir Michael Stoute at Newmarket. He intends to ride again when the ban ends.