[NCNCA] FW: SFGate: Basso Admits Role in Doping Scandal

[Barry Gordon]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2007/05/07/sports/s1
42124D36.DTL
 
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Monday, May 7, 2007 (AP)
Basso Admits Role in Doping Scandal
By ARIEL DAVID, Associated Press Writer


   (05-07) 14:21 PDT ROME, Italy (AP) --

   Giro d'Italia champion Ivan Basso admitted involvement in the Spanish
doping scandal and is cooperating with sports authorities. The Italian
rider "widely acknowledged his responsibilities" in connection with
Operation Puerto and offered "full cooperation," the Italian Olympic
Committee said Monday.

   Basso's lawyer, Massimo Martelli, said his client decided to "spill
the
beans because it was not possible for him to live out his passion, his
work, cycling, in this way." Basso could face a long suspension and it
was
not immediately clear if his Giro title was in danger.

   Basso's name turned up on a list of cyclists who allegedly had
contact
with a Spanish doctor accused of running a blood-doping clinic in
Madrid.

   Martelli said he could not disclose what Basso told the Italian
committee
prosecutor because the transcript was sealed. But the lawyer said Basso
acknowledged "the moment has come" to speak. Martelli added that Basso
will "plan his future around the fight against doping."

   "I hope that his voice will not be a solitary one," Renato Di Rocco,
president of the Italian Cycling Federation, told APTV. "It is a voice
that comes from a prominent figure in this sport and this makes me feel
optimistic about the future. I hope that his sacrifice will not be in
vain."

   Basso has been charged by the doping commission of the Italian
committee
with using or attempting to use a banned substance after sports
authorities reopened an investigation into his alleged role in Operation
Puerto.

   The 29-year-old rider will not be implicating other riders in the
investigation, Martelli said.

   "This kind of activity was carried out individually," Martelli said
by
telephone. "He never saw or heard of other riders" being involved.

   The Spanish investigation started last May when sports doctor
Eufemiano
Fuentes, coach Manolo Saiz and six other people were arrested in Madrid
on
suspicion of providing doping services to cyclists. More than 50
cyclists
were implicated, and Basso, Jan Ullrich and seven other riders were
excluded from last year's Tour de France.

   Basso initially was cleared of involvement in October, but the
Italian
Olympic Committee reopened the case last month after reportedly
obtaining
bags suspected to contain his blood.

   Basso ruled out defending his title in the Giro, Italy's top cycling
event, which begins Saturday. He was barred by his Discovery Channel
team
two weeks ago, and he quit the team last week.

   Also Monday, American rider Tyler Hamilton and Joerg Jaksche were
left off
the preliminary list of riders for the Giro. Hamilton, a 2004 Olympic
champion, recently completed a two-year ban for doping.
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Copyright 2007 AP