Kieren Fallon, the six-times champion jockey, has been suspended from racing for 21 days for ''non-wilful'' breach of riding rules, according to his lawyer.

Fallon was handed the maximum suspension by the Jockey Club yesterday, after a stewards' ruling he had failed to properly push his horse, Ballinger Ridge, to the finish line at Surrey's Lingfield race course last week.

Christopher Stewart-Moore, his lawyer, said the ban had been agreed to by the jockey.

A separate investigation continues into ''unusual betting'' patterns before the race, but the Jockey Club has dismissed further allegations that it is currently investigating a widespread ''betting scam'' among jockeys.

The 21-day ban was agreed at the racing regulator's monthly meeting yesterday, according to Mr Stewart-Moore.

He said: ''We have now made formal admission of a breach and it is called non-wilful breach of rule 156, which I think is not riding a horse out to the finish line. I have given him my advice. He has taken my advice and he is agreeing to 21 days' suspension.''

Fallon flew back into Britain from Malaga yesterday, and was immediately involved in a fracas with the media at Stansted Airport.

He made a dash to the airport exit and a waiting car to avoid a scrum of reporters, press photographers and TV crews.

Airport officials said the jockey was aware of the media pack waiting for him, but was reluctant to leave the international arrivals area of the airport.

He eventually emerged half an hour after his 1.20pm flight landed and walked briskly past other passengers and ducked beneath railings to meet a friend.

The two men then made a dash for the exit and, at one point, a camera fell to the ground after a photographer clashed with Fallon, who lives in Cowlinge, Suffolk.

David Pollington, Fallon's agent, said of the suspension: ''That is the maximum and that is what was expected, absolutely. End of story.''

Fallon's suspension is due to start next Tuesday, and will run until Thursday, April 8, on days on which flat racing is scheduled. He was heavily criticised after Ballinger Ridge came second despite leading most of the way at Lingfield.

The controversy deepened after claims surfaced in The News Of The World that the jockey told undercover reporters before the race that he would lose and that Rye, the eventual winner, would triumph.