Basso: "It was only attempted doping" By Gregor Brown http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2007/news/may07/may08news3/DV177851alt.jpg "It was only attempted doping," said 29 year-old Ivan Basso to a conference room full of journalists and photographers in Milan's Hotel Michelangelo. The rider from Varese was barred from the Tour de France and had his 2006 Giro d'Italia victory, where he won by more than nine minutes over Jos? Gutierrez, called into question as a result of documents linking him to Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes. Yesterday, after months of denial, the former Discovery Channel rider agreed to cooperate with Italian Olympic Committee's (CONI) anti-doping prosecutors and admitted that the bags of blood labeled 'Birillo' which were seized in the raid on Fuentes' clinic belonged to him, but denied he ever used them. "In my career I have never used doping products or resorted to blood transfusions," continued Basso according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. Basso, dressed in a light blue dress shirt and jeans, denied using any doping products although refused to deny his involvement with Fuentes and the subsequent Operaci?n Puerto. "I will serve my suspension and then return to race. I know that returning will make me feel better; I think that the group will accept me," said Basso. While admitting that his actions deserved punishment, Basso claimed that all of his victories were achieved without doping. "I am fully aware that an attempt at doping is tantamount to doping, but I am asking to be excused for this and that should be enough," he stated. While Basso's dominant performance in the 2006 Giro d'Italia led third-place finisher Gilberto Simoni to describe him as an 'extra-terrestrial', Basso insisted that he won the race without resorting to using any illegal methods. "All my victories were obtained in an honest manner and nobody can contest what I achieved in the 2006 Giro d'Italia no more than the other results I achieved during my career." http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2007/news/may07/may08news3/DV177865tn.jpg Basso refused to be drawn into listing other names but instead wanted to speak for himself. "I can't vouch for the honour of my colleagues, who wins honestly, like I have always done. "There is talk about how I am a repenter, or a collaborator. I want to clarify that I was not asked about the other people involved, further, I don't know of riders or other people involved." He reflected on his decision to involve himself with Fuentes. "It was a weak moment, but I am aware that attempting to dope is the same as doping. I will serve my sentence and return to the work I love." He finished by commenting on his family. "I will assume my responsibilities, confronting my family, who has stood beside me in my decision."
