Racing: Fallon will go to law over Triad allegations

Kieren Fallon is to take legal action against the newspaper which printed claims that he was involved with Triad members. The champion jockey, who is cutting short a stint in Macau due to a neck injury, will launch proceedings when he returns to Britain next week.

In a statement, his solicitors, Ralph Davis, said: "Kieren Fallon has had his attention drawn to an article in the News Of The World of 24 February 2002, in which it is alleged that he was involved with Triads while riding under licence in Hong Kong and that as a consequence the Hong Kong Jockey Club has refused him a licence.

"Kieren Fallon would like to reassure the racing public that these allegations are false and without foundation. On his return to England next week he will be instructing his solicitors to take action against the News Of The World, seeking an apology and a retraction in relation to theses allegations."

In the 1990s Fallon, together with the trainer Lynda Ramsden and her husband, Jack, won a libel case against The Sporting Life which had accused him of "cheating" on the staying handicapper Top Cees.

He has vehemently denied any connection with the Triads, the Chinese mafia.