Olympic speedskating champion Claudia Pechstein of Germany has been banned for two years after testing positive for blood doping.

That means the German skater will miss next year's Vancouver Olympic Games, according to the International Skating Union (ISU) on Friday.

According to the ISU, the German's blood profile had included abnormal values in a series of tests, in particular during February's world all-round championships.

Pechstein, 37, has won five Olympic gold medals. She has 21 days to appeal against the ban.

(Xinhua News Agency July 4, 2009)