German cyclist Matthias Kessler has been banned for two years after testing positive for elevated levels of testosterone in April last year.

The sanction was announced on Friday by the Swiss Olympic Association who are responsible for the Switzerland-based rider's licence.

The former Tour de France stage winner was sacked by his Astana team in July after the presence of the banned substance was confirmed in a B-test.

The Swiss Olympic Association said the ban would run from July 27, 2007, and that Kessler would also have to pay trial costs in the region of 5,000 Swiss francs (£2,225).

He was also ordered to repay any prize money earned since the date of his test.

The Swiss-registered, Kazakh-funded Astana team were hit by four doping cases last year including team leader Alexander Vinokourov's positive test for a homologous blood transfusion following a stage victory on the Tour de France.

Vinokourov was also sacked by the team and later announced his retirement from cycling.

Reuters