Christophe Soumillon has had his retainer with Aga Khan ended with immediate effect after elbowing fellow jockey Rossa Ryan off his horse last Friday at Saint-Cloud.
The Belgian, who has been champion jockey in France 10 times and has won major races all over the world, has had a controversial summer.
He first picked up a lengthy ban when winning the Eclipse at Sandown on Vadeni, allowing his mount to drift to his right shortly after the line in celebration, narrowly avoiding a major incident.
- Ryan: I was very lucky to walk away from Soumillon elbow incident
- 'Disgraceful' - Soumillon gets two-month ban for elbowing Ryan off horse
Then on Friday at Saint-Cloud, Soumillon moved to his right mid-race in the Prix Thomas Bryon, sticking out an elbow, which forced Rossa Ryan on Ralph Beckett's Captain Wierzba to be unseated in a horror incident.
Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports Racing in the immediate aftermath of the race, Soumillon said: "I received a little bit of pressure from Rossa on my outside as I tried to keep a better position behind Ryan [Moore, on Continuous].
"I put my elbow against him just to make him understand I wasn't going to the inside. Straight away I knew I made a mistake and I'm terribly sad with what happened because I hate seeing stuff like this.
"I really want to apologise to everyone. I'm happy Rossa is fine but this was not a nice act on my side and I'm terribly sorry."
Soumillon was given a 60-day suspension by the France-Galop stewards but the fact the ban did not kick in immediately angered many and he was allowed to take his high-profile mounts on Arc weekend, and he went on to finish second in the big race itself on Vadeni.
A statement issued on social media by the Aga Khan Studs read: "Following last Friday's incident at Saint-Cloud, which resulted in the fall of Rossa Ryan, the Aga Khan Studs have taken the decision to cease their retainer with Christophe Soumillon with immediate effect.
"From this week onwards, Soumillon may still ride in the Aga Khan silks on occasion at the discretion of the French trainers and the Aga Khan Studs team.
"At this stage, there is no intention to retain a jockey in France for the foreseeable future.
"Christophe Soumillon was the Aga Khan's retained rider in France from 2002 to 2009 and from 2014 to 2022."
The Aga Khan's racing manager Georges Rimaud confirmed that while Soumillon will no longer be retained by the team, he could still be reunited with Arc runner-up Vadeni next season.
"The statement is short, simple and to the point and came out of the discussion we've had with the team," Rimaud said on Nick Luck's Daily Podcast.
"We have decided to not renew the contract with Christophe next year and because he can't ride for the next two months it (contract) is stopping now.
"But we are also saying he is able to ride our horses based on what the trainers want to do. If they wish to have him on a horse they can have him on a horse, but he's not under contract.
"We'll see what happens. I think it's very difficult to know what will definitely happen with Christophe - I'm not sure what he will be doing."
Soumillon released his own statement following the decision, stating: "I am of course very disappointed to lose my retainer with the Aga Khan Studs, but I am immensely proud and honoured to have held such a highly esteemed position for so long and wish them continued success.
"I realise that I have bridges to rebuild, but am determined to show commitment and desire to those owners and trainers that wish to engage my services."
Vadeni to stay in training at four
Vadeni will stay in training as a four-year-old as connections eye a second tilt at the ParisLongchamp showpiece next season.
Winner of the French Derby and the Eclipse earlier in the year, the Churchill colt went on to finish third after encountering trouble in running in last month's Irish Champion Stakes.
Jean-Claude Rouget's charge dispelled doubts about his stamina by pushing Sir Mark Prescott's Alpinista all the way in Paris on Sunday and it has now been confirmed he will return in 2023, with a trip to Royal Ascot viewed as a potential stepping-stone to the Arc next year.
Rimaud said: "We felt he was unlucky in the Irish Champion and he was beaten in the Arc in very deep ground, so we felt he needed to get another chance in it.
"He answered all the questions - he can stay and he doesn't mind the ground - so we felt the right thing to do was give him another chance next year.
"I think it's the right decision. I think the horse will strengthen more and I think he will have a very good year next year.
"We will probably start with a race in France - the Prix Ganay or something like that. Then we could maybe aim for the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot and then see how we bring him to the Irish Champion and then the Arc,
something of that nature with all the variations in between.
"It all depends really what other horses will be running next year and how the horse is. There's a lot of ifs and buts during a horse's career, but the trainer mentioned those races on Sunday."