Basso plea bargains for monetary fine BUSTO ARSIZIO, Italy (AP) - Ivan Basso will pay a $15,000 fine under a plea bargain arrangement Tuesday to close a case that had regular judicial authorities investigating him for doping. Basso's two-year ban for involvement in the Spanish blood-doping probe known as Operation Puerto expires later this month. Basso confessed to "attempted doping" but said he never actually went through with it. Basso's lawyers said he wanted to close the case so he could focus on his return to cycling, the ANSA news agency reported. 2008-10-14 13:24:45 GMT http://news.lp.findlaw.com/ap/s/2080/10-14-2008/20081014063504_10.html gotcha