Pfannberger banned for life

Austrian punished for second doping offence

Last updated: 21st November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Pfannberger banned for life

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Austrian cyclist Christian Pfannberger has been banned for life for a second doping offence.

Pfannberger, 30, pulled out of the Giro d'Italia and was suspended by his Katusha team in May after testing positive for the blood boosting drug EPO in an out-of-competition check on March 19.

He had previously served a two-year suspension after testing positive for testosterone in 2004.

Pfannberger has denied any wrongdoing and can appeal his life ban from the Austrian anti-doping agency (NADA) to an arbitrary committee.

"This is what we expected after he had been caught twice," said Herbert Kocher, a board member of the Austrian cycling federation.

"We are fighting hard against doping so we are satisfied with this result."