Good For Basso
Its about time that these guys take responsibility for their actions. I and may others respect them a lot more when they get caught and say YES I did it.
Cycling News Flash for May 7, 2007
Edited by Laura Weislo with assistance from Tim Maloney
Basso confesses his involvement in Operación Puerto
Ivan Basso
Photo ©: Gerry McManus
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According to the Gazzetta dello Sport's Valerio Piccioni, Ivan
Basso has confessed his involvement in Operación Puerto to the
antidoping prosecutor Ettore Torri of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI).
Today in Rome, CONI issued communiqué saying "Ivan Basso has largely
admitted his responsibility relative to Operación Puerto and has
provided the maximum collaboration to clarify the facts relative to his
involvement."
Basso and his lawyer Massimo Martelli met with Torri for two hours in
a legal office in the centre of Rome, where the confession of the winner
of the 2006 Giro d'Italia winner came of his own accord.
The head of the Italian cycling federation Renato Di Rocco applauded
Basso's decision to collaborate, telling the Gazzetta dello Sport,
"Ivan has done exactly what everyone asked of Pantani, and Marco didn't
do; now, we ask in the name of cycling to not leave Ivan Basso alone."
Although no further information has been released by Torri or the Italian
Olympic Committee, there is speculation that Basso may receive a retroactive
two-year suspension that could allow him to come back in time to ride
the 2008 Giro d'Italia.
On Sunday, prior to today's announcement, Cyclingnews spoke with
UCI president Pat McQuaid concerning speculation that a deal might be
done between Basso and CONI. "There is no provision for a reduced sentence,"
he said then. "The WADA rules apply and the minimum sentence is two years,
whether it is for admittance or non-admittance of an offence. The only
time when you get less than two years is if you can prove it was mistaken
or it was taken in foodstuffs, that kind of thing. But if you have been
willingly involved in a doping activity, it is two years.
"I don't want to speculate on it [prior to such a deal being agreed -
ed.], but the option is there for either the UCI or WADA to appeal to
CAS."
Ivan Basso has not yet issued a statement, but a press conference is
expected on Tuesday.