Australian gold-medal-winning cyclist Michael Gallagher will not compete at the Paralympics in Rio after it was revealed he tested positive to a banned blood booster.

Gallagher, who won back-to-back golds in the individual pursuit at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, was handed a mandatory provisional suspension by Cycling Australia and the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) after testing positive for erythropoietin (EPO).

The 37-year-old was tested out of competition at a training camp in Italy in July, according to the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA).

“The test was coordinated by ASADA as part of a comprehensive pre-Rio anti-doping program to ensure the integrity of the Australian Paralympic team,” ASADA said.

‘A reminder to all athletes’

Paralympics chef de mission Kate McLoughlin confirmed Gallagher had been cut from the Rio team immediately.

“The APC fiercely supports the fight against doping in sport and this is a reminder to all athletes that they will be caught if they do not comply with the rules, regardless of intent,” she said.

Cycling Australia chief executive Nick Green said the organisation had a zero-tolerance drugs policy and “fully supports the rigorous testing done by ASADA and the action taken by the Australian Paralympic Committee”.

In addition to his two straight gold medals, Scotland-born Gallagher also won bronze in the individual road race in Beijing and the individual time trial in London.