No evidence against Basso, says official

By Justin Davis

Salzburg - Ivan Basso could be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if he is cleared of suspected doping at a hearing in Italy due to a lack of evidence against the Italian cyclist.

A top Italian federation official said Sunday at the world road cycling championships there was no concrete evidence against Basso, one of a reported 58 riders alleged to be implicated in "Operation Puerto" in Spain.

The Tour of Italy winner was suspended by his CSC team a day prior to the start of the Tour de France because of supposed evidence linking him to the Spanish affair.

Basso has not turned a pedal in anger since, and is facing being sacked by his team who are keen to keep their distance with the Italian as the sport launches a raft of new, ambitious anti-doping measures.

However Basso may be given fresh hope of getting back to competition. He will attend a second hearing at the Italian Olympic Committee's disciplinary board on September 29.

And if they Italian sports authorities do not find enough evidence to sanction the 29-year-old, the International Cyling Union (UCI) would have to decide whether the evidence is strong enough for them to then seek a sanction through the Court of Aritration for Sport (CAS).

Italian official Silvio Martinello, the national federation's technical director, said the evidence on Basso from Operation Puerto amounts to very little.

"There is no real proof against Basso. I have seen the dossier that has been sent from Spain, and the only link to Basso is when his name comes up in a telephone conversation," Martinello said.

"In all likelihood, I think Ivan will end up going to the CAS."

UCI president Pat McQuaid said midweek the Italian authorities, and other national federations who have riders allegedly implicated in the Spanish investigation, should study the evidence well before deciding to hand down sanctions.

On Monday the UCI chief said Martinello had been wrong to comment on the case, but that if Basso were to be cleared this week in Italy the UCI would start to look at the evidence and decide on whether or not to pursue the case.

"If Basso is not sanctioned by the authorities in Italy, then it would be up to us to study the evidence against him and decide whether or not to take the case to the CAS," McQuaid said.

"But the Italian federation official was wrong to comment on this dossier before the hearing has taken place. It is not his responsibility, and should not be done at this time."

McQuaid said the UCI, which has been busy launching a wide range of new anti-doping measures, were not currently in a position to say how strong the evidence against Basso was.

As a result, the UCI chief could not give an indication on the possibility of taking Basso to the CAS in order to obtain a ban.

Basso's future is uncertain, as is that of Germany's Jan Ullrich. The former Tour de France winner was sacked by T-Mobile after evidence linking him to the affair, which erupted in May and revealed an alleged blood doping and doping network run by a doctor, Eufemiano Fuentes.

If the Italian is banned, he risks losing all chance of riding for a Pro Tour team again.

Martinello said he fully supports the UCI's anti-doping measures, but stressed: "People in Italy and elsewhere don't understand what's happening in this case.

"Basso and Ullrich have not tested positive, but it's still not fair that they cannot compete either. You can't condemn someone if the proof does not exist."