Vienna - Austrian sports manager Stefan Matschiner was released from custody Thursday after spending nearly six weeks in custody on allegations of being a key player in a doping scandal embroiling the country's sports scene.

He has reportedly admitted to having supplied his former client, the cyclist Bernhard Kohl, and other athletes such as triathlete Lisa Huetthaler with doping substances.

Matschiner was detained in late March as justice authorities saw a risk he might suppress evidence. In the meantime, the investigation has been nearly completed, said Gerhard Jarosch, spokesman of the Vienna prosecution, and there was no more reason to detain the suspect.

In the country's recent efforts to crack down on doping, several suspects including former national cross-country and biathlon trainer Walter Mayer were also detained.

On Wednesday, Austrian road race champion and 2008 Giro del Capo champion Christian Pfannberger became the latest doping suspect after testing positive for an yet-unknown substance in March.

Pfannberger faces a life ban if found guilty as a second-time offender, banned 2004-2006 for testosterone abuse. He was suspended by his Russian Katusha team but has protested his innocence.

"As I definitely did not take anything illicit, I will use all legal means to prove this," said the 29-year in a statement. (dpa)