BiciRace.com :: News :: Basso Confident in Escape

News :: September 2006

30 September 2006

Basso Confident in Escape - CONI Wants More Time

Festival Mayo: Basso's last race appearance before reports of his involvement with Fuentes, photo: Makoto.Ayano/ CyclingTime.com

Ivan Basso will have to wait longer to know if he can start racing again. Yesterday in Roma, the 28 year-old Italian met with Franco Cosenza, anti-doping lawyer of CONI (Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano), for the second time in regards to his involvement with Spanish doping doctor Eufemiano Fuentes. Basso and his lawyer, Massimo Martelli, presented new evidence, and asked the case be archived, but Consenza said CONI needs more time. A decision is expected in the coming week.

It was the second time Cosenza had summonsed Basso, banned from starting the Tour de France and suspended by Team CSC after Spanish investigators found strong connections between the Italian and Fuentes. In an investigation dubbed, Operación Puerto, the Spanish Guardia Civil linked Basso to Fuentes by unveiling sacks of blood, intercepted faxes and tapped phone calls.

"I'm awaiting the decision with confidence," said Basso, who feels confident that Consenza will be without enough of the facts to hand the case over to the disciplinary commission of the FCI (Federazione Ciclistica Italiana). "I've always been optimistic; I've answered all the questions the first time, as well as today."

Basso would not say if he wanted to continue with Team CSC. The team will likely want to wash their hands of the mess surrounding their former star. The Italian could sign with another squadra, but would a ProTour team with a clear conscience want to sign him?

"I am still under contract with CSC," Basso said after the hearing in Roma. "We will have a meeting after the decision has been made by CONI."

Read:
Operación Puerto: Basso Returns to Roma, 28 September
Bjarne Riis in Salzburg without Basso, 22 September
Basso Rides Four Hours with Squadra Azzurra, 21 September
Basso Likely to Escape - New Squadra, 19 September
Basso's Hearing Postponed to 29 September, 8 September
Basso Waits for 12 September, 30 August
Operación Puerto: Basso in Roma, 29 August
Basso's Dossier Opened, Ullrich Faces Life, 28 August
Riis Foresees Basso's End with CSC, 23 August
Di Rocco Continues to Support Basso, 21 August
A Damning Fuentes Fax, 18 August
Vuelta Unlikely as Basso's Case Moves Forward, 5 August
Basso Case Arrives in Italy, 4 August
Di Rocco on Basso, 27 July
Operación Puerto: National Federations Receive Names, 26 July
Basso Comments on Spanish Case, 3 July
Bam! Tour Shaken and Basso Gone, 30 June

Züri Metzgete, 1 October, 240.9K, World Champ Race Debut
Main Page, Overall Map, Profile, Startlist
Report and Results, Photos
2005 Results

29 September News ...