Breaking: Basso Confesses in Rome!

by Chris Fontecchio on May 7, 2007 11:09 AM EDT in News

h/t R Mc and Lyne, and to PUK whose diary beat me to this by 10 minutes... an admission! No more guessing games about this case, at least:

From VN:

Italian cycling star Ivan Basso admitted to the anti-doping prosecutor of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) on Monday that he was involved in the Operación Puerto blood doping scandal.

Original reporting in Italian at La Gazzetta... headline: "Basso confessa e collabora". "Collabora"... sounds like he's willing to talk. Stay tuned.

Yet another Update [2007-5-7 15:19:11 by chris]:: ESPN/AP are reporting he isn't planning to name names.

"This kind of activity was carried out individually," the Italian cyclist's lawyer, Massimo Martelli, said in a telephone interview. "He never saw or heard of other riders" being involved.

Update [2007-5-7 14:25:35 by chris]: Now CN has it, with a few quotes.

Update [2007-5-7 13:37:52 by chris]: La Gazzetta is all over the story, with a main story and six sidebars including reactions. All in Italian, unfortunately, but words like "responsibility" and "conscience" are easy to spot. So are some others:*

Zomegnan: "a gesture of great courage"

Gianni Bugno: "for me this changes nothing."

Rebellin: Simoni, Cunego and Savoldelli are the favorites now. (duh)

*actual translation may vary

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Comments

This is good news, or at least the best

that could have happened under the circumstances.

THE top star of cycling coming forward after getting caught red handed. This should open the gates for others to tell their story, rather than try to lay low.

Hopefully, the authorities can deal with doping in an intelligent, even-handed way if the riders come forward. A big event like this can set the stage for real reform.

-K-

by KevinK on May 7, 2007 11:16 AM EDT reply actions

The best we could hope for

I'm with Pantani, I don't believe in fairy-tales, but the best possible answer was that Basso was not Birillo. Since it appears that he is, chapeau to him for nutting up and taking it like a man.

This is a lesson to those who deny, deny, deny in the face of chemical proof of their cheating and attempt to destroy the entire anti-doping system just to avoid being held responsible for their choices.

Also, it gives a way out for Italians on the list. I think Caruso may be the only other one on official list of 50 some odd riders, but perhaps if amigo di birillo isn't already retired, he has an out too.

Here's hoping the Spanish Federation offers a similar deal and we can get some real closure on the case.

If the riders have a reason to believe that the races will be somewhat clean in the future, then they have a reason to believe they can ride clean and still get results. Here's hoping this is the first step in that direction.

Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste

by Koppenberg on May 7, 2007 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Floyd's PR campaign

looks more like a boat anchor than a life raft right now. Hmmm, admit to it, or plead no contest summer of 2006, recover from hip surgery summer of 2007, ride 2008? Now, blow money on lawyers, PhDs, through 2008+ with no chance to win, and then be banned til what 2010?

-K-

by KevinK on May 7, 2007 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

While I don't disagree with that

Floyd hasn't been officially found guilty yet. The IRMS tests that indicate the presence of exogenous testosterone have not yet been shown to prove guilt.

Hamilton on the other hand...

Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste

by Koppenberg on May 7, 2007 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions

The odds that Floyd will be cleared

dropped from 0/1,000 to 0/1,000,000.

The odds that Howard Jacobs will be able to upgrade his gold plated bathroom fixtures to solid gold went from 1/1 to 1/1.

-K-

by KevinK on May 7, 2007 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions

TDF

will have 3 or 4 man teams this year

by 12string on May 7, 2007 11:17 AM EDT reply actions

proposed VDS rule change

team with the most riders left wins

by 12string on May 7, 2007 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions

So now

do people see why we want to do VDS competitions one grand tour at a time? :-)

Got a problem? Va fa Napoli!

by Chris Fontecchio on May 7, 2007 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions

While I'm pained that it's true,

I agree with anyone else who thinks this is a real chance for true reform. Hopefully his confession will break things wide open and lead to other riders coming forward. It's likely the only way to actually halt the systemic cheating and clean up the sport.

Van P and I were chatting off blog and I was thinking of another novel way to deal with cheating: simply test the top 150-200 riders every week. Since the guys who win on a consistent basis tend to be at the top of the sport, they've already proved that they don't need to dope to perform well. What they're looking for is an otherwordly edge against their fellow stars. So bring them all back to earth a bit.

Anyone not ranked in the top 200 would get tested as usual by their teams, and if they slip through the cracks that's ok. They're most likely doping just to hold onto the tail end of the peleton and their jobs as water carriers.

This is all tongue in cheek of course but keep it in mind if OP breaks down and it becomes business as usual.

"I don't know too many monkeys who could take apart a fuel injector."

by Drew on May 7, 2007 11:31 AM EDT reply actions

Yep

Once a big name falls, suddenly it starts looking like the rich riders can't buy their way out of scandal. A big confession really would place a TON more pressure on the rest of the cheaters still out there.

Got a problem? Va fa Napoli!

by Chris Fontecchio on May 7, 2007 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

better to be among the first than the last

to admit to it. Basso ends up looking Moses-like, leading the peleton out of the wilds of blood doping; Jan ends up looking like a dumb ass--no way to recover from that.

-K-

by KevinK on May 7, 2007 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Let me get this straight...

You and Van P were "chatting off blog"... about cycling! Say it ain't so! OFF blog... my god man, what are you trying to do, send us back to the stoneage? You got something to say related to cycling you say it here or just keep it to yourself. Whew!

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." -- Gandhi

by ELVISGOAT on May 7, 2007 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Egoat

Actually we were mutually distracting each other from work via email. If you want in just say the word :-)

"I don't know too many monkeys who could take apart a fuel injector."

by Drew on May 7, 2007 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

hahahahaha

Do I want in...?!? Is the Pope Catholic?

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." -- Gandhi

by ELVISGOAT on May 7, 2007 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Glad this is finally getting somewhere

We could have done without the year-long media speculation nonetheless. I'm interested to see what Basso actually admitted to.

by ghisallo on May 7, 2007 11:31 AM EDT reply actions

Jan probably feels pretty stupid right about now

-K-

by KevinK on May 7, 2007 11:34 AM EDT reply actions

and Tyler, too

Hopefully, Basso weighed his options and realized the value in being to first to "come clean" ... It's true that this opens up the possibility of others coming forward, but after Basso, anyone else who admits to doping will look like they're climbing on a bandwagon.

I wonder if Lance and Johan are a little nervous about what Basso might say? I imagine Basso will claim ignorance of others' activities.

by ancien equipier on May 7, 2007 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions

How big is the bandwagon?

Definitely the value in coming clean drops off quickly, but I am sure several riders could do so without looking bad.

I'm sure you're right; no way Basso will implicate any other riders or managers.

-K-

by KevinK on May 7, 2007 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn't be so sure . . .

that word "collabara" has me wondering just how many carbon-soled shoes and careers are about to drop.

Do you really think that the Italian authorities would get Basso to ruin his own career without getting him to flip on the whole system? Doesn't sound right to me--remember, they are after his sister and friend (Scarponi), too.

I wonder who will be first to interview Jesus Manzano again . . .

by R Mc on May 7, 2007 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

My guess is they will get him

to turn in Doctors and various middlemen actually involved in providing the doping service. Maybe some managers?

He probably doesn't really "know" much about other riders.

-K-

by KevinK on May 7, 2007 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Collabora

To me it means Basso is ratting out Fuentes, as well he should. But honestly, aside from whether Basso would turn in other riders, how many patients are even aware of what their doctor is doing with other patients? I doubt he has much to tell in that regard.

Got a problem? Va fa Napoli!

by Chris Fontecchio on May 7, 2007 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Manzano, Simeoni, who else?

The "zip the lips" moment from the 2004 tour will probably start cropping up again.

-K-

by KevinK on May 7, 2007 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I seem to recal

in the earliest days of OP scandal, Sevilla was singled out, and he made an angry comment in the press. Something along the lines of, "It isn't just me, Ullrich is also covered in grease."

I have a feeling that if more riders take a fall and some significant others seem to get off scott free, there will be some motivation to start talking.

Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste

by Koppenberg on May 7, 2007 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

There's no value to the silence anymore

as far as I can tell.

As long as the little fish were the ones talking, they could be ridiculed and marginalized and the "code of silence" was worth something.

Now, I think there's no value in keeping the mouth shut. It will probably take longer to play out than anyone would like, but hopefully, it actually will play out. We might be able to watch the Giro and the Tour this year and not wonder about the performances.

-K-

by KevinK on May 7, 2007 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions

watching and wondering

Things might get shaken out by Tour time, but not before the Giro.

I would expect a few new revelations during the race and a few raids and such, as well.

by ancien equipier on May 7, 2007 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Scarponi, too?

There's an interesting tidbit in the Gazzetta story that I haven't seen anywhere else. It says that, although no meeting had been scheduled, the Basso's lawyer, "and that of Scarponi" spontaneously asked to see the anti-doping procuratore. There's no further mention of Scarponi in the article, but I wonder if he is also thinking of cooperating.

The article also quotes Basso's lawyer, Martelli, as saying he'll release a statement this evening and meet with the press tomorrow, probably in Milan.

Eleven Nation Army: Ready to get rich off the other teams' lunch money

by Susie Hartigan on May 7, 2007 12:14 PM EDT reply actions

Thank god Basso confessed

I was sure his separation from from Disco was the launchpad for a ridiculous Tyler-like defense. Im glad to be proven wrong.

by Jens on May 7, 2007 1:24 PM EDT reply actions

reality

I'm starting to think the most 'realistic' grand tour performer of the last 10 years is Gibo Simoni. I'm suspicious now of anything too good or coming to form for a magic 3 weeks a year.

by phantom @ Podium Cafe on May 7, 2007 3:48 PM EDT reply actions

Cunego?

He's nowhere close to being implicated in anything.

by BDBrian on May 7, 2007 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Same mentor as Pantani

Not a good sign, but let's hope for cycling's sake that doesn't mean he's dirty.

by Jens on May 7, 2007 4:19 PM EDT reply actions

Aye

Cunego is a pupil of Cecchini. As is Tommy Dekker.

However both have a natural heamatocrit over the arbitrary 50 limit, so neither are able to take advantage of blood doctoring efforts to raise their baseline. That doesn't mean they can't artificially keep their hematocrit from dropping as the race progresses, but neither gets a boost from EPO or blood doping out of the box.

I'm hoping that they are clean, and working w/ a tainted prepatoire is not evidence of doping by any stretch. Still, I'd be happier if some of these doctors and scientists who pioneered blood engineering fell out of favor with the stars of tomorrow.

Andy Hampsten's open letter in support of Lemond's statements about Armstrong and Ferrari sum up my feelings on the subject.

Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste

by Koppenberg on May 7, 2007 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Cecchini

Maybe I read Cycle Sport's valentine to him too closely, but I don't get the impression he's a doping doc. He and Ferrari both became renowned innovators at the same time, but the whispers about how they were aiding doping... it's possible for them to be true about Ferrari and still not implicate Cecchini. If the only argument against Cunego is that he works with Cecchini, that ain't much.

Got a problem? Va fa Napoli!

by Chris Fontecchio on May 7, 2007 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions

There are a lot of um doubts about Cecchini

and all of Conconi's associates/mentees. I do recommend reading the excellent article on DP: http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=10163

There are more articles available but as far as I know not in English (in French or Italian).

by lyne on May 8, 2007 1:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Sorry about the mentor confusion

I was tinking of Guiseppe Martinelli who is a DS on Lampre and was also DS for Pantani for most of his career. He's employed as team DS but he is basically Cunegos man. And it is a not evidence of anything (nor is a connection to Cecchini)just a warningsign.

by Jens on May 8, 2007 1:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Get your race resume up to snuff

I've been critical of the way the UCI, ASO, press, et. al., have handled the OP affair (and still think they overreacted) but I've also always wondered when the day of reckoning for those involved would finally come. It's right around the corner now perhaps?

by ghisallo on May 7, 2007 4:35 PM EDT reply actions

riis

when is it Riis's turn to confess? Basso did it for him, to get his approval by winning, in part at least...he no doubt knew what his star protege was doing..i mean we have all seen overcoming & how Riis would just march unannounced into Basso's hotel room without knocking or anything, no secrets there....why does Riis get off with no sanction, no public flogging, no nothing? he's really worse in my mind in some ways, with his crazy monomania for winning just driving him to pressure and manipulate his riders to get results....its not a pretty picture, riis as a DS, he's too obsessive and frankly i put the blame for Basso at least halfway on him, if not moreso. Basso found a way to give Riis what he so desperately wanted and what he pressured Basso day after day to provide...wins. Now that Basso's going down, Riis ought to go with him.

by Lili on May 7, 2007 11:11 PM EDT reply actions

Not going to happen

"Mr. 60 Percent" is not the confessing type.

To be fair, none of the other former TdF winners who have doped seem to be ready to 'fess up, either.

by socal @ Podium Cafe on May 8, 2007 1:53 AM EDT up reply actions

He can feign ignorance

Or maybe he really was. Either way, it doesn't augur well for the sport. But there are a lot of proposals out there to hammer the teams when their guys get busted... and I think these ideas are absolute necessities.

Got a problem? Va fa Napoli!

by Chris Fontecchio on May 8, 2007 1:30 AM EDT reply actions

Riis: a dinosaur evolved?

The way I am thinking about this is that Basso is not an aberration; that use of these "training programs" is fairly common. There's probably not much of a leap by the riders to go from accepting "legit" treatment and advice from doctors to blood doping.

We'd have to be naive to think that anyone from the Riis generation that is involved in the sport at that level isn't tainted in some way.

I'm not sure it makes sense to purge the sport based on the (not so recent) past and some sort of purity test.

If you compare Riis, who appears to be doing what's necessary to reform the sport, and Johan, who just engaged in the same shady behavior, I think that Riis is genuinely changed, probably for selfish reasons, but he has changed.

-K-

by KevinK on May 8, 2007 7:15 AM EDT reply actions

Eurosport is reporting this morning:

Basso denies taking drugs

by Scott. on May 8, 2007 8:53 AM EDT reply actions

what a weasel

now Basso says he never doped & was clean for the giro in 2006! so much for confessing to anything. he only admits to "attempted doping", whatever the hell that is supposed to mean. this is not a confession, its as much omerta as if he said nothing! useless lying scumbag!! he ought to be banned for life for telling such moronic lies that insult his fans intelligence. he should absolutely be stripped of his giro win.

and also in the vomit-worthy category Riis is saying in Gazzetta that he knew nothing! yeah right, what a bunch of scam artists this sport is full of. makes me sick. and for those who go around saying that Basso is "courageous" for admitting to nothing...get real, he lied right up until he was about to be caught red-handed. what is courageous is for those truly clean riders (is there any?) to get up every morning and go and train as hard as they can, even knowing full well that they will be beaten day after day after day by cheaters and liars who lack any moral fiber. this whole sport is some kind of sad sick joke.

by Lili on May 8, 2007 9:38 AM EDT reply actions

Took your cynicism pills today I see...

by ghisallo on May 8, 2007 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

blah

I did it, but I didn't do it. What a shitbag.

I got my hopes up for some real statement, I should have known better.

-K-

by KevinK on May 8, 2007 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Perfect!

It's almost worse to bait us with this hope that his "confession" would lead to some type of catharsis for the sport, only to pull the rug out, spit in our faces, and claim he paid 100,000 Euros and had a few gallons of blood set aside 'just in case.'

by humboldt on May 8, 2007 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I only "attempted" to dope .....

Similar statements

I didn't inhale
I'm just a little bit pregnant
Check's in the mail
The IRS are really understanding
I can "pop" that back in .. shouldn't hurt
WMDs
1.9% APR
Premium membership? It's worth it
I keep mine pumped-up to 140psi
Ohhh - just jump, you can make it

Thought maybe something refreshing was gonna happen. <sigh>

Phat Arses - On my signal, unleash Hell!

by notaero on May 8, 2007 10:21 AM EDT reply actions

Hey what do you know,

we didn't get a ridiculous Hamilton-style defense we got an equally ridiculous Frigo-style defense. I just lost the final ounce of respect I had for the man (along with my lunch). Slap an extra five year suspension on him for thinking we are all idiots and lets get on with our lives. Hopefully starting with the greatest Giro we have ever witnessed, the ingredients are there so lets hope.

by Jens on May 8, 2007 11:42 AM EDT reply actions

Have you considered

that he might actually be telling the truth? He seems willing enough to bear the punishment for attempted doping which he points out is against the rules as well. I'm somewhat skeptical of his statements today, but how in the world can any of us know what the truth of the matter is? Why the blood lust?

by ghisallo on May 8, 2007 12:43 PM EDT reply actions

Not blood lust, maybe extreme cynicism

Why give the benefit of the doubt? I wouldn't give a friend, neighbor, or family member such suspension of disbelief.

Granted, there's not much value in venting in this forum, except for the fun we get out of doing it.

If anything, we hold back too much!

-K-

by KevinK on May 8, 2007 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I've wondered about that angry bloodlust

that I've read everywhere, fans were not this angry at Ullrich, at Landis, but Basso is sure getting the full treatment. Why?

by lyne on May 8, 2007 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I was outraged on his behalf

when Gibo tainted his Giro-win with unsupported accusations and he claimed innocence, I was angry on his behalf when he got thrown out of the Tour and claimed his innocence, I was irritated when the Puerto stalled and left him in limbo and he claimed his innocence. Then I slowly started to get disillusioned with his apparent lack of interest in actually proving his innocence and started just hoping for some kind of resolution to the whole mess. Point ,I have given my former favourite rider the benefit of a doubt for the better part of a year and he continues to dissappoint as an athlete and a man.From here on I reserve my patience and sympathy for those clean riders he and others have cheated out of their livelyhood,careers and triumphs.

by Jens on May 8, 2007 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, for me, it was a few things:

He always "seemed" like such a nice guy. Articulate, a family man, well-liked by his teammates.
He said he was going to win the Giro for his mother. C'mon now, would a guy dope to win one for Mom?
The movie "Overcoming." I know, I know, it's just a movie, but he seemed like such a nice young man, well-respected by his teammates and coaches. And his mom died, poor guy.
The 2004 TdF. In which he sailed by Ullrich, and gave Lance a run for the money. Kinda.
The 2005 TdF. In which he declared that he was the one to watch in '06, not Ullrich or Vino.
Team CSC. I wasn't a big fan of his when he was on Fassa, but I was a big fan of Team CSC starting in 2004, after Tyler left.
The biggest reason I'm angry is becuase I am such a fool. Once again I believed in yet another cyclist that has announced his innocence. Makes me angry with myself. Especially reading the "back-pedaling" today.

"Excuse me, you are American; you have no idea about great beer." -Jens Voigt, Philosopher

by Ruthann on May 8, 2007 2:07 PM EDT reply actions