I hate it when ClutchFans BBSers make the news for the wrong reasons! http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/cycling/4749809.html Basso suspended amid Puerto flap Discovery team makes move after Italian agency reopens inquiry By DALE ROBERTSON Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle The Discovery Channel cycling team's dream season has run into a major pothole with the news that the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) has reopened its investigation into star rider Ivan Basso's involvement in the Operation Puerto drug scandal that forced Basso and eight other riders out of last summer's Tour de France. Basso, signed by the Discovery Channel in November after he was dropped by Team CSC because of his being linked to Operation Puerto, is to appear before the committee's anti-drug prosecutor Wednesday. As a result, the team has suspended the 29-year-old Italian superstar pending the outcome of the hearing. He was scratched from Wednesday's Fleche-Wallonne race and won't start Sunday's Liège-Bastogne-Liège Classic. Italy's Ansa news agency says prosecutor Ettore Torri and his assistant, Franco Consenza, have summoned Basso to their offices to interview him regarding the "use or intent to use a banned substance or method." Despite the suspension, Discovery's sport director, Johan Bruyneel, said the team continues "to stand by Basso," while adding "(we) intend to cooperate with all parties involved until there is closure. It's unfortunate that this is now occurring. I have spoken to Ivan, and although he's frustrated, he agrees (with) and understands the decision we have taken." Discovery riders have played dominant roles in the 2007 Pro Tour season to date, taking two major American stage races plus the Paris-Nice Pro Tour race, in addition to numerous other high finishes. Basso is considered the favorite for both the Giro d'Italia, which he won last year, and the Tour de France, although his participation in both is now in jeopardy. Basso's signing with Discovery has been a source of controversy and conflict with other Pro Tour members, who claim it violated a gentleman's agreement to stay away from riders who were linked to the Spanish sports doctor, Eufemiano Fuentes, at the center of the Puerto investigation. But the Austin-based team defended the decision to reel in Basso based on CONI's having cleared him of wrongdoing in the Puerto case, which Spanish authorities later closed. Some 60 riders were implicated, and the International Cycling Union (UCI) hasn't let the matter drop, pushing forward with its own inquiry. Also, the Amaury Sports Organization, which operates the Tour de France, has said it wouldn't allow Puerto-tainted riders to race without further establishing their innocence. Basso, who denies having ever had contact with Fuentes, agreed to submit to DNA testing when he signed his Discovery contract but only in connection with "a national judicial or disciplinary investigation." Next week's hearing would seem to fit that criterion.
I still don't know what sam was going for in the KingCheetah one. These will never reach the jack of all trades status of the "Looks like I'm..." threads.
I've always figured Basso wishes he was part of the Bush Administration but he needed some shady activity to qualify.
