June 15/07 3:15 am - Basso Suspended

Posted by Editoress on 06/15/07
 

Ivan Basso Suspended 24 Months

Italian cyclist Ivan Basso has been suspended for 24 months by the Italian cycling federation for his self-admitted involvement in the Operacion Puerto affair. Basso admitted to Italian prosecutors that he was involved with Dr Eufemiano Fuentes, and that blood bags seized with the name 'Birillo' on them were his blood. However, Basso continued to insist that he never actually used doping products.

There were rumours that Basso would receive a lighter sentence for admitting his involvement, but the UCI campaigned vigorously against this, and the full sanction was applied. Basso will be eligible to return to racing on October 24, 2008. He will have missed the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Tours de France, as well as the 2007 and 2008 Giros (and the Olympics).

Basso left CSC after he was linked with the Puerto investigation, but was hired by Discovery Channel, whom he left in May as pressure mounted from italian prosecutors.