Champion jockey Kieren Fallon has been called before the Jockey Club disciplinary panel over recent newspaper allegations.

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.

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 a four-page article published on March 7 and described as the ''sports scandal of the decade'', the paper 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 14 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''.

The Jockey Club security department's investigation into irregular betting patterns on the Lingfield race is on-going and is separate to the disciplinary panel hearing into the allegations.

Fallon was suspended for 21 days for failing to ride out Ballinger Ridge and is set to return to the saddle at Kempton on Saturday.

The horse was beaten a short head by Rye after Fallon eased down when well clear approaching the final furlong.

Irregular betting patterns on a betting exchange had initially prompted the controversial race to be referred for investigation by the Jockey Club.

Fallon is determined to prove his innocence.

''My conscience is clear and it will be a relief to get the opportunity to clear my name,'' he said.

His solicitor, Christopher Stewart-Moore said: ''The Jockey Club are seeking to establish if any information was given for material gain.

''Kieren Fallon told the reporters on many occasions that he could not accept any material reward and he did not.''

It is likely to be several weeks before the inquiry takes place.

''I wouldn't expect the matter to be concluded in the near future,'' said Jockey Club public relations director John Maxse.

"I think we are looking at a few weeks away."

The punishment for acting in a manner prejudicial to the integrity of racing varies from a fine of between £1,200 and £10,000 to, for a more serious offence, being suspended or warned off.

Passing information for reward attracts a fine of between £1,000 and £5,000, a suspension or warning off.