LISBON, Feb 27, 2009 (AFP) – Reigning Portuguese cycling champion Joao Cabreira was handed a two-year doping ban on Friday by the Portuguese Cycling Federation.

Cabreira, a 26-year-old who won the Tour of the Algarve in 2006, was found guilty of “using a masking substance”, according to the federation, prior to providing a recent sample to doping controllers.

It is the second doping sanction for Cabreira in a year.

In August 2008 he was handed a 10-month ban for missing a doping control, although Cabreira successfully appealed that sanction.

Formerly with Portugal’s number one team, LA-MSS – who have been investigated amid suspicions of systematic doping – Cabreira had returned to competition earlier this month with the CC Loule team.