Racing: Kieren Fallon has failed in his final appeal against the 18-month worldwide ban he received from France Galop in January for a second positive drugs test.
The six-times champion jockey made one last attempt to three judges d'appel, who are members of a 15-strong panel of experienced racing professionals, in Paris last week.
"The initial ban has been confirmed. We had official confirmation today," said Herve Naggar, Fallon's agent in France. "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 incurred the suspension after testing positive for a banned substance following his winning ride aboard Sue Magnier's Myboycharlie in the Prix Morny at Deauville on August 19th.
He only began riding in early June after completing a six-month ban for another positive test.
With Johnny Murtagh having been brought in to replace Fallon as first jockey to the Coolmore operation and trainer Aidan O'Brien, Fallon has renewed his links with Michael Stoute, for whom he will ride work this season.
He rode as first jockey to Stoute from 2000 until joining O'Brien in February 2005.