Italian Olympic Committee: Basso admits involvement in Spanish doping scandal

[kfrost06]

ROME (AP) -- Giro d'Italia champion Ivan Basso admitted involvement in the Spanish doping scandal and is cooperating with sports authorities.

Basso asked to talk to the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) anti-doping prosecutor, and during their meeting he "widely acknowledged his responsibilities" in connection with Operation Puerto and offered "full cooperation," CONI said.

The Italian cyclist's lawyer, Massimo Martelli, said his client spoke about "methods with which this activity was carried out."

Basso's name had turned up on a list of cyclists who allegedly had contact with a Spanish doctor accused of running a blood-doping clinic in Madrid.

Martelli said he could not disclose the exact contents of what Basso told the CONI prosecutor because the transcript was sealed.

"Basso said, 'The moment has come for me to assume my responsibilities. I only hope that I will be understood,"' Martelli said, adding the rider would "plan his future around the fight against doping."

Basso has been charged by CONI's doping commission with using or attempting to use a banned substance after sports authorities reopened an investigation into his alleged role in Operation Puerto.

The 29-year-old Italian will not be implicating other riders in the investigation, Martelli said.

"This kind of activity was carried out individually," Martelli said in a telephone interview. "He never saw or heard of other riders" being involved.

The Spanish probe started last May when sports doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, coach Manolo Saiz and six other people were arrested in Madrid on suspicion of providing doping services to cyclists.

The investigation implicated more than 50 cyclists and led to Basso, Jan Ullrich and seven other riders being excluded from last year's Tour de France.

Basso was initially cleared of involvement in October, but CONI reopened the case last month after reportedly obtaining bags suspected to contain his blood.

He ruled out defending his title in the Giro, Italy's top cycling event, which begins on Saturday. Basso was barred by his Discovery Channel team two weeks ago, and he quit the team last week.

[kfrost06]

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