Vienna  - Austrian marathon runner Susanne Pumper could face a life ban after being caught doping with the blood booster EPO twice in little more than one month, the Austrian press agency APA reported on Friday.

Pumper, 37, submitted the first positive test on March 9 and the second positive test on April 14 after a half marathon, APA quoted her lawyer as saying.

Austrian athletics supremo Roland Gusenbauer did not want to comment whether the two positive tests constitute one or two doping offences.

Pumper faces a two-year ban if she is found guilty of one offence but a life ban if it is rated two doping violations. (dpa)