Fallon positive for cocaine

Kieren Fallon's briefly resurrected riding career was put on hold again this weekend when it was learned that he had tested positive for cocaine after having ridden Myboycharlie to win the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville on Aug. 19.

Exonerated on Friday in London from race-fixing charges, Fallon had a reversal of fortune barely 24 hours later as France-Galop confirmed reports in the British media that the 42-year-old Irish jockey had tested positive for pure cocaine in a random test that is part of French racing's drug policies. Fallon had completed serving a six-month suspension in June that had been given by the French stewards for testing positive for cocaine metabolites after a 2005 race.

The delay in the announcement of the August positive test occurred because France-Galop, the ruling body of French racing, does not normally announce test results until they have been finalized. In this case, its hand was forced because of press leaks to Britain's Press Association and Sky TV News. France-Galop's director, Louis Romanet, pointed out that the new investigation is still in its early stages, and that a second analysis has yet to be completed. Second offenses for cocaine abuse in France are known to produce suspensions of 12 to 18 months.

Fallon has not ridden since guiding Dylan Thomas to victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Oct. 6.