Cyclist Pfannberger gets lifetime ban for doping

Nov 21, 2009 - 12:46 PM VIENNA(AP) -- The Austrian cycling federation says Christian Pfannberger has been banned for life by the national anti-doping agency after a second doping offense.

Pfannberger, a two-time Austrian national champion, pulled out of the Giro d'Italia and was suspended by his Katusha team in May after he tested positive for the banned drug EPO in an out-of-competition check on March 19.

Pfannberger had previously been suspended for two years for testosterone in 2004.

The 30-year-old cyclist has denied any wrongdoing. He can appeal Saturday's ban at the agency's arbitrary committee.

Pfannberger had his best season in 2008, finishing fifth in Liege-Bastogne-Liege and sixth in the Amstel Gold Race.

His ban marked the third doping scandal for Austrian cycling within a year.

In November 2008, Bernhard Kohl was banned for two years after a doping violation at last year's Tour de France, where he finished third and won the polka-dot jersey for best climber.

Kohl admitted to using the new blood-booster CERA and later retired from the sport.

In March, Christoph Kerschbaum became the first Austrian athlete arrested under the country's new anti-doping laws for allegedly selling EPO and other performance-enhancing substances.

Earlier this year, the country's cycling federation had called for doping to be classified as a criminal offense, leading to harsher punishments for riders who use banned substances.

As of Jan. 1, 2010, athletes in Austria caught doping could be charged with serious fraud and face prison terms of up to 10 years, if a proposed amendment to the national fraud act is ratified by parliament later this year.