Austrian Christian Pfannberger won’t have to worry about doping controls anymore. The Austrian Cycling Federation announced that the suspended Katusha rider will get a lifetime ban for his two doping offenses.
Herbert Kocher, financial referent of the ÖRV (Austrian Cycling Federation) was happy with the ruling of the Austrian NADA (national anti doping agency). “It is what we expected, after he was caught twice. We are one of the federations who are fighting doping full swing and therefore we are happy with this result.”
Pfannberger may appeal the decision.
The Austrian was first caught in 2004 for using Testosterone and banned for two years. His second offense was announced in May of this year. He failed an out-of-competition control for EPO on March 19.
Pfannberger started his career in 2002 with Team Nürnberger Versicherung. He almost never stayed more than one season with a team (in 2006/2007 he rode for Elk Haus Simplon). After a good 2008 at Barloworld, Katusha seemed to be a good fit for the aggressive rider.
At Flèche Wallonne Pfannberger criticized the team’s tactics and told Velonation that the Classics “are my big target for the coming seasons.” But at only 29 years old, his career seems over.