Basso Makes Emotional Tour Return

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ROTTERDAM, Netherlands - Italian star Ivan Basso admitted the emotions were in full flow as he prepared to complete his return to the Tour de France this week. Basso returns to the race with a strong Liquigas team for the first time in four tumultuous years, although in 2006 the Italian ace did not even get to turn a pedal in anger. Implicated in the 'Operation Puerto' doping scandal … [Read more...]

Basso Relishing His Tour Return

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PARIS, June 28, 2010 - Italy's Ivan Basso admitted Monday he is relishing his return to the Tour de France five years after last competing as he leads a Liquigas team which also includes Czech rider Roman Kreuziger. Basso was forced to withdraw on the eve of the 2006 race and was later banned two years for his involvement in the Operation Puerto scandal. This year he has been in fine … [Read more...]

Basso Basks In Pink, But Can’t Wait For The Tour

Written by: Justin Davis PARIS, June 1, 2010 - Recently-crowned Giro d'Italia champion Ivan Basso has promised to compete with the few real contenders for cycling's prestigious yellow jersey after pledging to race the Tour de France in July. Basso, who finished runner-up to seven-time champion Lance Armstrong in 2005, secured his second pink jersey from the Giro d'Italia on Sunday … [Read more...]

Spanish Rider Valverde Banned Until End of 2011

Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde on Monday received a two-year ban from world sport's top court, the CAS, over his implication in the Operation Puerto drugs scandal which erupted in 2006. The ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport will please several bodies who have been campaigning to see an Italy-wide ban on the Spaniard extended worldwide. The ban was backdated to January 1, … [Read more...]

WADA ‘Frustrated’ But Closing In On ‘Cheat’ Valverde

by Stephanie Pertuiset MONTREAL, May 12, 2010 (AFP) - World Anti-Doping Agency legal chief Olivier Niggli believes the anti-doping authorities are set to end Alejandro Valverde's winning streak by handing the Spanish cycling champion a two-year ban. However Niggli admitted WADA has been left frustrated with the Spaniard, who continues to race, and win, amid his suspected implication … [Read more...]

Valverde, And The “Punchers”, Take Aim At Amstel

PARIS, April 16, 2010 (AFP) - Controversial Spaniard Alejandro Valverde will continue to provoke cycling's world ruling body when he lines up with possible victory in mind at the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday. Valverde is currently a target of International Cycling Union (UCI) bosses who are clinging to the hope of banning the Spaniard for his alleged implication in the 'Operation Puerto' doping … [Read more...]

Valverde Two-Year Doping Suspension Upheld

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Tuesday announced that it has upheld a two-year suspension for doping against Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde. The CAS "has dismissed the appeal filed by the Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde against the decision of the National Olympic Committee of Italy (CONI) suspending him for two years from all sports events organized on Italian soil," the … [Read more...]

Operation Puerto Is Closed

Today, it was announced that Operación Puerto was over. The investigation to the Spanish doping ring based around the PED godfather Eufemiano Fuentes is closed. The retrospective look into the dark era of cycling did undoubtedly prevent the sport moving forward. Bikepure and Bicycle.net are sad justice was not done. The UCI, Spanish Cycling Union and WADA, unsuccessfully appealed the … [Read more...]

CAS Postpones Hearing In Valverde Doping Case

GENEVA, Nov 9, 2009 (AFP) – The Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) said on Monday that it had postponed a hearing into Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde’s appeal against a doping ban that sidelined him from this year’s Tour de France. The hearing into the two year suspension on Italian soil imposed by the Italian national Olympic committee (CONI) had been scheduled for November … [Read more...]

No Tour de France For Valverde

PARIS, June 23, 2009 (AFP) - Controversial Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde will not take part in this year's Tour de France, his Caisse d'Epargne team announced on Tuesday. His absence removes a potentially embarrassing stand-off as the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) last month banned Valverde from racing in Italy for two years due to his alleged involvement in the Operation Puerto blood … [Read more...]