Austrian prosecutors announced Monday that banned Stefan Denifl could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of illegally obtaining funds from sponsors while doping.

In March, Denifl confessed to doping after an Operation Aderlass investigation led to the discovery of 40 blood bags in a garage associated with physician Mark Schmidt.

Denifle and Nordic skier Max Haucke, who was allegedly caught giving blood transfusions during a police raid during the World Championships in February, have both been charged with fraud. Last week, Austrian prosecutors announced that they had filed similar charges against Georg Preidler. [Denifle's situation is more serious, however, as the former Aqua Blue Sports and IAM Cycling athlete has been accused of blood doping and using human growth hormone from 2014 until the end of his career. Denifle signed a contract with the CCC team for 2019, but broke it in December before the season began.

Prosecutors estimate that Denifle fraudulently obtained as much as 500,000 euros in sponsorships under false pretenses, citing doping activities.

In March, the UCI imposed a provisional suspension on the 32-year-old Denifle. He accepted a four-year ban, keeping him out of competition until 2023.

Denifle turned pro in 2006 with Team Voralberg in Austria and was a member of Elkhouse Simplon until joining the Cervelo Test Team in 2010. 2011 saw him move to his first WorldTour team, Leopard Trek, and the following year The following year, he moved to Vacansoleil. He then moved to IAM Cycling in 2013, where he remained until the team's dissolution.

His main achievements, an overall win at the 2017 Tour of Austria, a stage win at the 2017 Vuelta a España, and a mountain class win at the 2015 Tour de Suisse, were erased along with all his results until June 1, 2014, after he admitted doping.