BHA clear Fallon to ride

Ex-champion can return after drugs ban

Last updated: 28th November 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

BHA clear Fallon to ride

Fallon: Cleared to return

Also see

Kieren Fallon is clear to return to race-riding next September after the British Horseracing Authority announced it has concluded its investigation into corruption.

The six-times champion jockey, currently serving an 18 month drugs ban, will not face any further action from the BHA in relation to last year's trial at the Old Bailey, which collapsed leaving Fallon and five others not guilty.

The announcement was made as the governing body concluded their investigation into the laying activity of 27 races in 2003 and 2004 by Mark, Bruce and Lloyd Bennett, which also included fellow riders Dean Mernagh and the recently disqualified Dean McKeown.

As far as Fallon's alleged involvement with the Bennetts and other non-licensed individuals - against whom exclusion proceedings are under way - the BHA made clear that the rider was not accused of racing-fixing or "stopping" horses.

In respect of last year's City Of London Police investigation that resulted in a near three-month sitting at the Old Bailey, the BHA continue to work towards bringing their investigations to a conclusion.

Fergal Lynch, who is now based in America, Miles Rodgers and Darren Williams could face charges in relation to evidence obtained from the Crown Prosecution Service, but Fallon will be unaffected.

Fallon, who is currently in the United States, will have to appear before a licensing panel of the BHA before resuming his right to ride.

In a statement the BHA said Fallon "accepted that his attitude to inside information has in the past been reckless conceding that he has been too free with such information and careless about whom he passed it to."

It added that Fallon has also committed "to accept a rigorous regime to ensure he is and remains both drug free, and compliant with Rules of Racing regarding the use of inside information."