Fallon has had a turbulent year in 2006French racing authority France Galop have suspended jockey Kieren Fallon for six months after testing positive for a prohibited substance.
The 41-year-old six-times champion jockey tested positive for a metabolite of a banned substance.
The ban, which is likely to be applied worldwide, is to begin on 7 December.
Fallon is currently banned from riding in Britain after being charged with conspiracy to defraud by the City of London Police.
The ban results from a sample given by the Irishman when he rode Ivan Denisovich in the Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly on 9 July and is likely to be reciprocated internationally.
"We were informed by France Galop this afternoon that Kieren had tested positive for a prohibited substance," said Denis Egan, chief executive of the Irish Turf Club.
"The stewards need to meet first but I would imagine he will be banned from riding in Ireland as well.
Fallon has the right to appeal but both A and B samples tested positive
France Galop spokesman Henri Pouret
"The international jurisdictions sign up to an agreement that if something as straightforward as this happens, we follow their decision.
"As both ourselves and France Galop are signed up to the agreement it seems likely he will be banned from riding in Ireland."
Fallon would be ruled out of the first part of the Classic season.
The quantity of metabolite found was described as "exceedingly low" by expert witness, Dr Michael Lewis, who admitted that there was a possibility that the test result arose solely as a consequence of environmental contact.
Fallon's solicitor Christopher Stewart-Moore said: "Over the course of his long riding career, Kieren Fallon has been tested by authorities all over the world and the results have always been negative.
"In this case, only trace levels were detected and these are considerably lower than generally accepted thresholds for positive results.
"Kieren is dismayed at this turn of events but understands that as it is a strict liability offence, France Galop has no alternative but to impose a suspension."
France Galop spokesman Henri Pouret said "Fallon has the right to appeal but both A and B samples tested positive."
This latest setback throw the Irishman's future in the saddle into further doubt.
Fallon has previously said he will quit racing if he cannot clear his name of race-fixing allegations.
He currently holds the position of stable jockey to the powerful Coolmore operation based at Ballydoyle in Ireland.
A spokesman said the team would "continue to use the best jockey available to them" during the ban.
Fallon has until midnight on Friday to appeal against the suspension.

A cracking feast of racing on Saturday when the feature race is the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury (2.40).

16 runners stand their ground making it an ideal race to look for each-way opportunities given that you'll be paid out on the first four home.

The last three runnings of the race have been won by a horse who won its previous race and TURPIN GREEN qualifies on that stat - but more importantly has the overall form to run a huge race and the 13/2 on offer from betterbet.com appeals as an extremely sound each-way proposition.

The Nicky Richards trained chaser was set an easy task on his seasonal reappearance at Carlisle when he had just two opponents to beat but won extremely well by no less than 28 lengths and 47 lengths !! His second to Star De Mohaison at Aintree earlier in the year reads as good form and he is sure to give a good account.

We want to add in a horse at more speculative odds. PARSON'S LEGACY, 20/1 with betterbet is from a stable that can do no wrong at the moment and was also a winner last time out.

Star de Mohaison won the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at CheltenhamAnte-post favourite Star De Mohaison will not line up for Saturday's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury.
Owner Sir Robert Ogden and trainer Paul Nicholls have decided to miss the race, and he may also bypass the King George as they target the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
"It is a decision they have taken together," said Ogden's racing manager Barry Simpson.
"We all agree he is a very good horse and we want to give him time to develop into a possible Gold Cup horse."
Star de Mohaison won the Royal & SunAlliance Chase for novices at the 2006 Cheltenham Festival.
The gelding, who has won four of his six starts over fences, is set to race next in the Future Stars Chase at Sandown on 1 December.
"He is then likely to take in one of the trial races after Christmas - it is most unlikely at this stage that he will run in the King George," said Simpson.
"We will be looking towards something like the Cotswold Chase or the Aon Chase."
Cornish Rebel tops the list of 27 horses confirmed for Newbury's feature race ar the five-day stage.
Paul Nicholls' nine-year-old is set to shoulder top weight of 11st 12lb in the 3m 2f event, with stablemate Neptune Collonges next on 11st 10lb.
Evan Williams has left in State Of Play, who is due to make his seasonal reappearance, while the well-backed Turpin Green stands his ground along with other fancied contenders such as Montgermont, Idle Talk and Copsale Lad.

The chasers very much get star billing on Saturday when both the Betfair Chase at Haydock and the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon have attracted small but very select fields

Betterbet.com have early prices on both events and we'll aim to provide you with a tasty win double.

Starting at Haydock with the Betfair Chase at 1.50pm and KAUTO STAR has been put in favourite at 11/8 by betterbet to continue the excellent run of his trainer Paul Nicholls. The six-year-old is chasing a million pound bonus put up by the sponsors if he was to win this, the King George and then the Gold Cup and we think he will start to make them feel just a little nervous after a success today. He is four years younger than principal rival Beef Or Salmon who has failed to win on his last six starts to Britain. Other rivals include Kingscliff and L'Ami neither of whom are in top form and maybe on the decline.

At Huntingdon five runners go to post for the Peterborough Chase at 3.00 and for our double we'll take MONKERHOSTIN at 7/4. Philip Hobbs's runner goes well fresh and can account for Racing Demon who played up at Exeter last time and Thisthatandtother who may just need the run.

It's not an original double but pays 11/2 with betterbet.com which will do us nicely.

Prolific hurdler Detroit City led from start to finish to clinch the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The 6-5 favourite, ridden by Richard Johnson, destroyed the rest of the field to make him the clear favourite for March's Champions Hurdle.

Ameeq, ridden by Ruby Walsh, was second with 50-1 shot Caraman third.

Johnson said: "I let him go from the top of the hill and he just eased home. He stays well but I never felt I was getting to the bottom of him."

Feature race of the day is the Paddy Power Gold Cup at what looks a superb punting card at Cheltenham.

Betterbet.com make Taranis and Vodka Bleu 4/1 joint favourites in the race that has been dominated by Martin Pipe in recent years with him training four of the last five winners. Whatever happens, with Pipe now retired, their will be new name on the trophy but it could well be Pipe junior, David as he is responsible for Vodka Bleu.

However, the horse has an absence of 714 days to overcome after a tendon injury which would normally be a massive negative but the stable can defy gravity at times and their have been positive sound bites emanating from Pond House this week.

We heard less positive news about the other joint favourite Taranis who didn't impress on a home gallop and comes to the race on a run of three wins and has a big weight burden.

Given doubts abut the leading contenders we'll play each-way at bigger odds. Scanning down Betterbet.com's odds Graphic Approach at 16/1 looks of interest to fill one of the first four places. His trainer Charlie Egerton has his string in fine form with three winners from his last seven runners and is capable of getting his runners fit after a lay-off.

Ouija Board will be retired at the end of the year
Ouija Board will bid for a second Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf crown in three years when she lines up at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
The Ed Dunlop-trained five-year-old won the 2004 race at Lone Star Park and was second to Intercontinental at Belmont Park last year.

She will become the first European horse to appear in the same Breeders' Cup event in three consecutive years.

Ridden by Frankie Dettori, she has a favourable low draw from stall two.

The winner of the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, Ouija Board's last outing saw her narrowly beaten by Dylan Thomas in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

But trainer Dunlop is concerned by the heavy rain which fell in Louisville on Wednesday as the horse has produced much of her best form on fast conditions.

This will be the richest-ever Breeders' Cup meeting with the eight-race card worth $20m (£16) in prize money.

Europe's other big hopes in Kentucky include the Jeremy Noseda-trained Araafa, who is well fancied in the Breeders Cup Mile.

BREEDERS' CUP SCHEDULE
All times GMT (Leading European contenders listed)
1730: Juvenile Fillies (Satulagi)
1810: Juvenile
1855: Filly & Mare Turf (Ouija Board)
1935: Sprint
2015: Mile (Ad Valorrem, Echo of Light, Librettist, Rob Roy, Aussie Rules, Araafa, Sleeping Indian)
2055: Distaff
2135: Turf (Scorpion, Hurricane Run, Red Rocks)
2210: Classic (George Washington, David Junior)

Top American jockey John Velazquez takes the ride on the colt who is fresh off a short break and has a good draw three off the rail.

Araafa is one of seven European challengers in the 14-strong field with John Gosden's Sleeping Indian and Godolphin challenger Echo of Light also attracting plenty of interest in what will be a keenly-contested race.

George Washington and David Junior will lead European hopes in the Breeders' Cup Classic but will face a tough task against the red-hot favourite Bernardini.

The colt carries Sheikh Mohammed's colours and has a good spot in stall three with George Washington in stall four and David Junior in stall seven.

Trained by Tom Albertrani and ridden by Javier Castellano junior, Bernardini has won his last six starts, with five of the victories coming by more than five lengths.

"With every race he gets better and stronger," Albertrani said.


George Washington will be racing on the dirt for the first time

"He's an amazing horse. Right now, he's doing as good as he's ever done. This is going to be his most difficult task, but he's up to it."

George Washington, trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by Michael Kinane, will be running for the first time on dirt and is also untried over the mile and a quarter distance.

But he looked impressive when beating Araafa last time out in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot while David Junior, the mount of Jamie Spencer, won the Coral-Eclipse Stakes in his last run.

Hurricane Run, who finished a disappointing third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last month, will hope for better in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

His owner Michael Tabor believes the horse, trained by Andre Fabre, can make a big impact if things go his way.

"Andre is a special trainer and he tells me the horse is in tip-top form," said Tabor.

"I hope he can put the race to bed on Saturday and if there is any juice in the ground - as well as a good pace - it will give him a much better chance."

Ed Dunlop is concerned by the prospect of softening conditions for Ouija Board in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf after Churchill Downs soaked up several hours of rain on Wednesday.

Ouija Board is a 15-8 chance with Betterbet.com - on a non runner no bet basis.

The trainer is mindful of the fact his five-year-old has produced much of her best form on fast conditions, although the turf course appears to be taking the abnormally wet Louisville autumn well.

Dunlop equipped Ouija Board with a striking grey hood for her work over seven furlongs and afterwards said: "I didn't want the rain and mud splashing in her face. The main track is sloppy and I hope the ground isn't like this on Saturday."

Dunlop was granted his wish of a low draw for Lord Derby's mare with stall two.

He added: "She doesn't have to have a barrier trial because she's been here before and she's very good at the gate. They have a lot of handlers here and they do a fantastic job."

Commenting on the work, he observed: "She cantered, going about seven furlongs and quickening-up nicely at the end. Everything went according to plan."