This has been a terrible year for Kieren Fallon. First, he was banned from riding in Britain and now, the French Racing Authority has suspended him for six months because he tested positive for a metabolite of a prohibited substance. The results came from a sample Fallon supplied in July after riding in the Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly.

“Kieren Fallon has been notified that he has a suspension of six moths after he tested positive for a prohibited substance,” Henri Pouret, of France Galop, confirmed. “He has the right to appeal but both A and B samples tested positive. The test was taken after the Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly.”

Although the level of the metabolite seems to be very low, the fact of testing positive is seen as a serious offence in France and the authorities had no choice but to suspend the Irish jockey.

Christopher Stewart-Moore, Fallon’s attorney, said the jockey has been tested all over the world and the results were always negative. “In this case, only trace levels were detected and these are considerably lower than generally accepted thresholds for positive results,” he added.