Austrian distance runner caught with EPO -- Susan Pumper

Distance runner Susan Pumper, who recently set a Austrian national record in the half marathon, tested positive for EPO. IHT with the story.

Austrian distance runner Susanne Pumper faces a two-year doping ban after her "B" sample came back positive.

Pumper confirmed the results Thursday. The 37-year-old runner had been provisionally suspended by the Austrian Athletics Federation after her "A" sample tested positive for EPO after a half marathon in Vienna on March 9.

A positive doping test is usually followed by a two-year ban from the International Amateur Athletics Federation.

Officials said her national record of 1 hour, 12 minutes, 21 seconds in the half marathon set last month will not be recognized.

Pumper was forced to sit out last month's Vienna City Marathon, where she had hoped to qualify for the Beijing Olympics.

EPO increases the red blood cell mass, by inducing synthesis, and marginalization of the cells.  Cyclists long abused EPO for an anaerobic advantage in races such as thew Tour de France.  Considering Victor Conte's revelations about track, and suspensions like Pumpers, obviously track athletes abuse EPO too.

EPO can be extraordinarily fatal too (is that redundant?)