Fallon not about to throw in towel

Racing : Kieren Fallon has vowed to return to race-riding stronger than ever after being hit with an 18-month worldwide ban.

Racing: Kieren Fallon has vowed to return to race-riding stronger than ever after being hit with an 18-month worldwide ban.

The six-time champion jockey tested positive for a banned substance following a race at Deauville in August 2007, and was hit with the lengthy suspension yesterday following a hearing at France Galop's headquarters earlier in the week.

Fallon, who has already lodged an appeal, is adamant he will return to the saddle and is keen to remain positive.

"It's not a tragedy, you know," he said. "Far from it. There's no doubt I'll bounce back. It's very silly of people to talk of retirement. I'm young at heart and have many years left.

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"I'll use the duration of the ban to get back on track, and when I do come back I'll be stronger, both mentally and physically," he told the Racing Post.

Turf legend Lester Piggott made a triumphant return to the saddle aboard Royal Academy in the Breeders' Cup Mile of 1990, just days after being released from prison at the age of 54.

At 42, Fallon hopes he too will be able to bounce back at the highest level when his ban expires.

"There have been a lot of jockeys out for longer than this," he added. "They've come back and won big races - Breeders' Cup, without naming names, when they've been a lot older."