Ivan Basso joins Discovery Channel pro cycling team

Hi Rob. I hear where you're coming. It would certainly have been better if Ivan Basso had stated publically that he was innocent, rather than his saying that he has nothing to prove. That only leaves the cycling fans in the same spot we were all in from the beginning of this whole affair. But, the main problem there is that we don't know what his lawyer is telling him and what is on his mind.

I would think that Ivan Basso had to state that he was innocent to the Italian Federation in order for them to clear him.

As for Discovery signing him, like Hyug stated, that's business as usual. We'll have to wait and see how the racing season works out for this team and rider.

Big Ring Rob wrote:

He wont even say that he is innocent, instead now that Discovery has signed him he "has nothing to prove".

Rob, I think you misinterpreted Ivan's quote. When Ivan said he "has nothing to prove", I believe he was referring back to the fact that his cases have been dropped and the Italian federation and UCI have since given the green light for him to race again.

Now, if CSC kept Basso and used him in 2007, I don't think this would cause a lot of uproar. Also, if Basso has a bad season in 2007, you can bet that all the nay-sayers will just go away.

The big uproar seems to be about the possibility of Basso winning--go figure. For me, it's about "May the best man win". It may be a bit premature laying odds that Basso will in fact win. As I've stated before, Vinokourov is hungry and his team may be strong enough to ward off the attacks at the TdF--we shall see.

However, if the winner happens to be Basso, then we should celebrate it and the talent and hard work that went into winning instead of always looking back and dwelling on Operation Puerto. Let's remember that Basso is, in the eyes of the Italian federation and spanish authorities--innocent--and who are we to say otherwise??

Well stated Curious.

Here is the contact information for the ASO (Amaury Sport Organisation):

A.S.O.

Amaury Sport Organisation
2, rue Rouget de L'Isle
92130 ISSY LES MOULINEAUX

Phone number :
33 (0)1.41.33.14.00

TV Contact :
asotv@aso.fr

Press Contact :
asopresse@aso.fr

MOEP, shall we flood that mailbox with protest messages ?!...

Not for me to say what people can do with the ASO contact info. I believe that should be their own business.

I have written WADA, UCI, USADA and a few other organizations last summer/fall with my concerns and suggestions. I did the same to ASO.

Here's the latest on USADA:
http://www.sportingo.com/more-sports...ests/
1001,2179

Web site is:
http://www.sportingo.com/more-sports...ests/1...

Correct web site is: http://www.sportingo.com/more-sports...ests/1...

For some reason the topix.net system is cutting off part of the web site. Here is the web address hopefully:
http://www.sportingo.com/more-sports...ests/1...

http://www.sportingo.com/more-sports...ests/1...

go jan ullrich
i hope he wins the tour de france then starts runing maratons like lance and beats lance and winns the maratons.
losers like levi and floyd i hate them i hope jan beats there face in because there gay.

Hey Ryan, ease up a bit. Okay, you don't like Floyd Landis and Levi Leipheimer. But, I do think that their wives would disagree with you about their being gay.

Of course I would believe that Levi Leiheimer is very happy right now as he's winning the Tour of California.