Aug 22, 2006
Is Basso Guilty?
Ivan Basso’ case will be argued next week on August 29th in front of CONI. It seems that there is a bit of doubt into the evidence given by the Spanish Guardia Civil related to Basso’ involvment in Operation Puerto. Despite of a possible incriminating fax that lists Ivan Basso and Jan Ullrich the President of the FCI (Italian Cycling Federation) Renato Di Rocco has doubts:
“From the documents I have seen, there are not sufficient elements to accuse [Basso].”
Questioned on the fax, Di Rocco cmments: “This fax we knew of before and according to me it serves to show that Basso can’t be ‘Birillo’, the number ‘2′ and the other times be ‘Ivan Basso.’ A person that uses codes would always use codes.” [i.e., if Basso is Birillo, why would Fuentes suddenty start referring to him as Basso?]
Seems like there may be some leniency for Basso, while Ullrich is getting skewered in the German media.