Basso is both Birillo and "No. 2". Michelle Scarponi is both Zapatero and el presidente. The big important difference between these two Operacion Puerto secret agents is that Scarponi is going to name names. Add to the list of non-starters at this saturday's opening stage of il Giro: Tyler Hamilton, Jorg Jaksche and Danilo Hondo.
"Oh, the heads, they are a'rollin'..."
Floyd's case with USADA is starting monday, the 14th. Given the apparent predisposition of the panel, don't get your hopes up for this to resolve anything other than clarifying the lengths to which everyone is willing to go to make sure that the anti-doping crusade works, guilt or innocence not withstanding. This is going to go all the way to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, regardless of USADA's decision.
Don't you love how people are praising Basso for his honesty. Sure, he denied any involvement in this mess for the last year, but when they finally had his back against the wall, the blindfold on and the guns locked and loaded, he stepped up and took it like a man. Think about it, Basso had no choice. Cop to this attempted doping and hopefully, nobody gets too nosy about the '06 Giro win that Basso swears up and down was won cleanly.
Gianni "il Diablo" Bugno, secretary of the rider's union, was pretty clear when he said that Basso's confession changes nothing. Team owner's and Team sponsors will still pressure riders to dope and cover up as much as they can. Notice how Bruyneel and Riis are both being pretty adamant about the distant nature of their relationship with Basso. The whole apple is rotten, not just a little part of it...
3 comments:
"The whole apple is rotten, not just a little part of it..."
you just helped me make up my mind.
Better watch that Hamilton comment. You are going to lose a customer?
There is no Hamilton "comment". He isn't starting the Giro and is on indefinite suspension from his team until the whole mess is sorted out. I want to believe Tyler and every other rider is doing it cleanly, but bags of blood, payments to Fuentes and everything else that will come out in this 6000+ page dossier on the whole affair, doesn't add to anything positive for the one sport that I truly love. Also, I don't think that doping in cycling originates with the riders, I think it is a system of pressure applied by management through contract offers. Mangaement is pressured by sponsors who want results as a pay off for their huge investments in the team. This doesn't taint my love of the sport, but I hate to see it embroiled in so much controversy and innuendo. If you really want an eye opener, read Paul Kimmage's "The Hard Road" to get a little historical perspective on doping in cycling, by a former pro cyclist
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