Vienna  - Stefan Matschiner, the former manager of disgraced Austrian cyclist Bernhard Kohl, was arrested Monday night following allegations by Kohl and an Austrian triathlete that he had supplied substances for doping.

Matschiner's lawyer denied that his client had supplied blood boosters to the two athletes, although he admitted another form of doping.

Kohl's "statements were relevant" for the arrest, prosecutor Gerhard Jarosch said about the cyclist, who was stripped of his third place in the 2008 Tour de France for using the blood booster CERA, also known as third-generation EPO.

Last week, Lisa Huetthaler, the 2007 military triathlon world champion, told the Kurier newspaper that Matschiner, 33, had supplied her with EPO and the hormone testosterone.

Prosecution spokesperson Gerhard Jarosch said that the arrest was triggered by information about several of Matschiner's alleged doping customers.

Matschiner's lawyer Franz Essl admitted Monday that his client had been involved in performance-enhancing blood transfusions for Kohl, but denied that that he had sold substances like EPO.

In the past, Matschiner was linked to a number of doping cases, without ever being directly accused.

Matschiner was present at the 2006 winter Olympics in Turin, on the invitation of disgraced cross-country ski coach Walter Mayer, who was arrested March 23 on charges of buying EPO at a Vienna pharmacist and distributing it to athletes.

Mayer's presence at the Games, despite a ban for an incident at the 2002 Games, triggered a police raid on the Austrian cross-country and biathlon team in which syringes and drugs were found.

Investigations about possible links between Matschiner's and Meyer's cases were ongoing, prosecutor Jarosch said.

Matschiner also managed the Dutch steeplechase athlete Simon Vroemen, who tested positive for growth hormones last summer, as well as Danish cyclist Michael Rasmussen, who was kicked out of the 2007 Tour because he had apparently avoided a doping test.

Under Austria's new anti-doping law, Matschiner could face a prison sentence of up to 5 years. (dpa)