VIENNA, Nov 21, 2009 (AFP) – Austrian cyclist Christian Pfannberger has received a lifelong ban for repeated doping offenses, the national anti-doping agency announced on Saturday.

Pfannberger, 30, tested positive in March for the banned blood booster EPO (erythropoietin) as he prepared to start in the three-week Tour of Italy as part of the Russian Katusha cycling team.

He was subsequently suspended by the team.

The two-time Austrian champion had already been banned between 2004 and2006 after testing positive for testosterone.