Racing: Champion jockey Kieren Fallon has been called before the Jockey Club disciplinary panel over recent allegations in the News Of The World.

The Jockey Club said yesterday that, having studied all the material provided by the newspaper, it had informed the solicitor representing both Fallon and fellow-jockey John Egan that they would be required to attend an inquiry. No date has been fixed for it.

This will seek to establish whether they acted in a manner prejudicial to the integrity and good reputation of horseracing in respect of their dealings with, conversations with, and various statements made to undercover reporters. The panel will also seek to establish whether Fallon committed a breach of the rules by communicating information about horses which was not publicly available, for material reward, gift, favour or benefit in kind. No date has yet been set for the inquiry.

In an article published on March 7th, the News Of The World alleged that Fallon told undercover journalists before a race at Lingfield that eventual winner Rye would beat his mount Ballinger Ridge.

Further material was published in the newspaper on March 14th and a dossier delivered to the Jockey Club. Fallon has insisted he was completely innocent of allegations of race-fixing, stating that such claims were "completely ridiculous".