WTF is "Attempted Doping?"

by Chris Fontecchio on May 8, 2007 12:35 PM EDT in News

Other items from today's Ivan Basso confessorial:

"I am 'Birillo'." So now he'll forever be associated with his dog. What is it about dopers and their pets?

He did work with Fuentes, but although they drew blood Basso claims he never got around to reinjecting it. Hence, the conspiracy to dope but no actual doping."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."

He will serve his suspension and come back, hoping he won't be labeled a doper when he does since he didn't, you know, finish the job.

The money quote: "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."

Why does a guy who is already capable of winning the Giro by nine minutes collaborate with a doping doc and scuttle his career in the process? At least generally discredited guys like Franck Vandenbroucke presumably got the benefit of the substances they were convicted of abusing. If Basso is to be believed, he destroyed his career for substances he didn't remotely need. It's like a billionaire going to jail for cheating on his taxes. What a stupid, stupid waste.

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Basso is Vandenbrouke's dog?

Didn't VdB claim the various PEDs found at his house were prescriptions for his dog?

by humboldt on May 8, 2007 12:41 PM EDT reply actions

Before or after

he threatened his wife with a shotgun?

Vlaenderen die Leu

by Peter Fontecchio on May 8, 2007 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions

VdB was hysterical

because his juiced-up dog Birillo was running away with all the victories

by humboldt on May 8, 2007 12:48 PM EDT reply actions

I like Jens's

"Frigo defense" comment.

This is so transparently an attempt to hang onto his Giro title that it's not really worth doing much except laughing about . . .

Except free-associating now. . . it's got me thinking that McQuaid's "mafia" comments weren't as off-target or stupid as everyone thought. I'm guessing that the main reason the Basso investigation kept going was subtle pressure from outside sources with big un-sophisticated comments like that.

by R Mc on May 8, 2007 12:50 PM EDT reply actions

Oh Ivan, say it ain't so!

Do you all think Ivan worked something out with CONI in exchange for a full confession, i.e. he confesses and they allow him to claim to never have used the blood or doping products?

Or is it just another case of a fish wiggling on the hook?

Still, though, contrast this with the response to, say, Hamilton's and Landis' difficulties. I mean, the same day Basso confesses, that guy in Italy is already saying he'll sign Basso to his team!

Maybe it's just a measure of the good will Basso has generated for himself in Italy.

---J

by 72andSunny on May 8, 2007 12:50 PM EDT reply actions

I wonder if Basso, Ullrich, Hamilton, etc...

really believe what they say? I bet they do.

Why does a guy who is already capable of winning the Giro by nine minutes collaborate with a doping doc and scuttle his career in the process?

Maybe the simple explanation is the best explanation: There is a big benefit to PEDs--maybe the benefit accumulates year after year.

-K-

by KevinK on May 8, 2007 12:56 PM EDT reply actions

Let's more names to add to that list

unfortunately, Pantani, Landis, Millar, VDB, ... I can't even remember Heras' story.

I've always wondered if they actually believe what they are saying. Either way you answer that one does not reflect well on the rider. I find this very sad actually.

by lyne on May 8, 2007 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Attempted Training

'I filed those 2,000 km in the Dolomites in my mileage bank just in case I needed them for the Tour. I did not use them for my Giro victory.'

by humboldt on May 8, 2007 12:58 PM EDT reply actions

lol

at least Basso gave us a whole new genre of excuses.

-K-

by KevinK on May 8, 2007 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Ladies and gentlemen

I give you our comment of the week.

Got a problem? Va fa Napoli!

by Chris Fontecchio on May 8, 2007 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions

April Fools?

When I first read the CN news flash this morning, I started getting excited for the Ronde again, until I checked my calendar and found today is not in fact April 1.

by humboldt on May 8, 2007 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions

my interpretation of Ivan's quote:

"I filed those bags of blood in Spain just in case I needed them for the Tour. I did not use them for my Giro victory."

Silly Kniggits

by Scott. on May 8, 2007 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Literally

Yes, that would be the literal translation, not the cynical/sarcastic/tongue-in-cheek/smarty-pants interpretation. Good job.

by humboldt on May 8, 2007 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Right

Makes sense. First off, the double was gonna hurt. Secondly, why would an Italian defraud his own people when he can defraud France instead?

Got a problem? Va fa Napoli!

by Chris Fontecchio on May 8, 2007 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Hilarious

and, unfortunately, the closest thing I've seen to a plausible explanation for a multi-year EUR100K collaboration just in case.

by humboldt on May 8, 2007 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Aaargh, just when you see...

the tip of the iceburg, it slides back under water again.

Note to Ivan Basso from a former fan: You are a lying asshole.

by Tiki on May 8, 2007 1:10 PM EDT reply actions

from the commentraries

around the net-- Basso's confession made him a hero after yesterday's admission ... today's Giro doping denial made him an asshole all over again.

by orangekick on May 8, 2007 1:33 PM EDT reply actions

I didn't inhale.

by Sui Juris on May 8, 2007 1:33 PM EDT reply actions

I did

and I'm proud of it.

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

by Drew on May 8, 2007 1:57 PM EDT reply actions

I inhaled

but I didn't exhale.

I always thought that answer made Clinton seem very wasteful of his friends' stuff. And that's not OK.

Got a problem? Va fa Napoli!

by Chris Fontecchio on May 8, 2007 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I want a refund

for my "Overcoming" purchase. I haven't been this angry since Girl You Know It's True.

-K-

by KevinK on May 8, 2007 2:06 PM EDT reply actions

OK

can you prove you're as gullible as those people?

Got a problem? Va fa Napoli!

by Chris Fontecchio on May 8, 2007 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I still cry a little every time I hear

Blame it on the Rain

-K-

by KevinK on May 8, 2007 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

C'mon

The extra section on Jens is worth the price all by itself.

I will have trouble watching the Basso parts though.

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

by Drew on May 8, 2007 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Then again

Basso might actually be telling the truth. After all they have no real evidence which proves he ever doped and he has never failed a doping test. Sure his explanation sounds lame, but it fits the facts.

Team Saddle Soar - Winning isn't everything

by Jimbo... on May 8, 2007 2:17 PM EDT reply actions

Let me get my boots on

Thats sounds like for more horse shit. I've been known to come up with some crap, but come on. If you are gonna go as far as to say you are Birillo and you acknowledge that you had dealing with Dr. Evil, then call a duck a duck and give everyone what they want. If you make a comeback and then win, you validate your Giro win. If not, then you just plain sucked after all.

BTW, I really bob my head on "Blame it"

by CannonDowell on May 8, 2007 2:30 PM EDT reply actions

You know who this reminds me of?

Museeuw. "I only used them my last year."

Basso is similar to Landis in this regard, they're both fighting to keep their titles.

by 72andSunny on May 8, 2007 2:30 PM EDT reply actions

Yup

and the money they already banked. They do have lawyers, after all.

Got a problem? Va fa Napoli!

by Chris Fontecchio on May 8, 2007 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions

money, money, money

I think that's it. If he claims to have doped for the Giro he's gonna have to pay back all sorts of award and sponsor money that, quite likely, has long been spent.

I'd like to think that somehow this "confession" of sorts will help clean up cycling but then I think back to the Festina affair...

by JohnSFO on May 8, 2007 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions