One after the other, jockey Kieren Fallon has overcome a succession of career-ending problems. Fallon was banned for six months in 2006 by France-Galop for a drug violation. He returned to riding in Ireland as the race-fixing charges in the United Kingdom continued to hold centre-stage. The year 2007 was about to end on a high note for Fallon as the corruption trial collapsed and the charges against him were thrown out. He had just begun to savour the verdict when France-Galop came out with the news that the six-time British champion jockey had tested positive for a prohibited substance soon after riding Myboycharlie in Deauville’s Prix Morny on August 19, 2007.

On Friday, after a hearing attended by Kieren Fallon and his legal adviser earlier in the week, the French racing body delivered the much-awaited decision. There will be an 18-month ban that will be worldwide. It was reported that Fallon had tested positive for cocaine. According to French rules, the ban goes into effect nine days after the decision.

Fallon wasted no time lodging an appeal. The appeal, for the moment, delayed the starting of the ban.

Henri Pouret, France-Galop’s head of the rules division, confirmed the Fallon ban. “Mr Fallon has been suspended for 18 months. In France, every case is treated individually. There has been an appeal. At this point, we do not know when the ‘appeal commission’ will convene.”

In 2006, Fallon served a six-month ban. It is the second such offence for Fallon in terms of riding in France. Jockey Dean Gallagher went through the same scenario. He said, “I feel sorry for Kieren Fallon. He has people in his corner and that makes it somewhat easy. It is a shame. You must remember that when you dance with the devil, you get burned.”

Fallon’s employer Ballydoyle reacted with restraint. A spokesman commented, “It is a personal matter for Fallon. Our policy is to find the best rider for every runner every time.”

William Hill gave the Fallon saga a new spin. The leading British bookmaker offered 5 to 2 that Johnny Murtagh would be Aidan O’Brien’s stable jockey by April 1. Murtagh rode several Grade I winners for O’Brien in 2007.

Fallon has been in one controversy after another. Through it all, he has come out with flying colours. In October 2007, with the race-fixing trial in England only hours away, Fallon partnered Dylan Thomas to a sensational win in Longchamp’s Arc de Triomphe.

Coming back from the six-month French ban, Fallon rode Peeping Fawn to victory in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh in June 2007.

During my visits to England and Ireland, I have found unwavering support for Kieren Fallon. His talent overpowered all the frailties and the peccadilloes he was linked to. There are trainers who are delighted to let Fallon ride their horses. I am beginning to think that Fallon has stretched the ‘credibility factor’ and the benefit of the doubt is applying to him less and less.

Yes, Fallon is a giant in the riding business. On the other hand, his list of indiscretions is getting to be longer than his catalogue of achievements and that is the point.