Racing: Fallon's career 'in ruins'

LONDON - Kieren Fallon believes his "career is in ruins" following the decision of the Horseracing Regulatory Authority to ban him from riding in Britain after he was charged as part of a police investigation into alleged race-fixing.

Fellow jockeys Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams, also charged with conspiracy to defraud Betfair customers, will also not be allowed to ride until after the conclusion of any trial, which is not expected to start for about eight months.

Fallon, Williams and Lynch were three of 11 people charged by the City of London Police last Monday and appeared at the authority's headquarters on Friday.

Fallon, a six-time British champion jockey, is allowed to ride in Ireland and had been serving a four-day riding ban picked up at Royal Ascot between Monday and Thursday last week.

He then made representations to the authority to allow him to be able to continue to ride in Britain.

However, a three-man panel, chaired by authority board director Sir Michael Connell, ruled he should be prohibited from riding in Britain "until the conclusion of the trial or further orders".

In a statement issued on Fallon's behalf by his solicitors, BCL Burton Copeland, the rider said: "I am obviously devastated by the HRA decision.

"I always thought that a man was innocent until proved guilty.

"I cannot understand this decision as I am confident that I have done nothing wrong, and my lawyers are confident the case against me has no validity whatsoever.

"In fact, I am utterly amazed the police were able to charge me based on the evidence I have seen and the questions that they have been asking me this year.

"My livelihood is dependent upon racing and I will be appealing against this decision as it is extremely harsh and inconsistent given the HRA panel's verdict on Alan Berry published earlier this week.

"However, unless my suspension is lifted, my career is in ruins as I cannot ask owners or trainers to support me elsewhere when I am prevented from riding in the UK."

Trainer Alan Berry is the other individual licensed by the authority to have been charged as part of the City of London investigation but he was allowed to continue to train after his hearing on Tuesday.

While noting the principle of "innocent until proven guilty", the panel said they had tried to balance the right of an individual to earn a living against the integrity of the sport.

-PA