Austrian Olympic Champion Christian Hoffmann was suspended with immediate effect on Thursday by the Austrian Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) over suspicions he is involved in a blood-doping ring.
He must answer accusations that he was part owner of a blood centrifuge for the use of blood doping.
Because of the suspension, the 35-year-old will not be able to compete in the Olympics. He will have a hearing with NADA on January 29th, but even were he to be cleared he would not have enough points to qualify for the Games.
“I have not been given the opportunity to try and prove my innocence,” Hoffmann said.