Only a few days before the Giro d' Italia starts, the 2006 champion Ivan Basso has confessed his involvement in Operación Puerto. Even when he accepted his responsibility in the Spanish doping scandal and was positive to give the CONI the maximum information to help clarifying the facts relative to the Operacion Puerto; Basso denies taken any doping substances or practicing blood transfusions.

While admitting that his actions deserved punishment, the professional cyclist asked to be excuse and is hopeful to be accepted in his return to the peloton. The head of the Italian cycling federation Renato Di Rocco applauded Basso's decision to collaborate with the sport authorities.

Basso's name turned up on a list of cyclists who allegedly had contact with Eufemiano Fuentes, who is accused of running a blood doping clinic in Madrid. The scandal happened last year just a couple weeks before the Tour started, many cyclists were linked to the Operacion Puerto but Basso was initially cleared of involvement in October. This year the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) reopened the study and only a week later Basso decided to quit from the Discovery Channel team.

Regarding the investigation the T-Mobile team manager affirms "The Operacion Puerto is not just about Jan or Basso; it's about identifying all the athletes involved" but they will have to pay the consequences of their actions.UCI president Pat McQuaid has said that Ivan Basso will not be granted a reduced ban from cycling after the Italian admitted his involvement in the Operación Puerto affair. The punishment for breaking article 2.2 of the World Anti-Doping Agency, if he is found guilty will have to wait two years to make a return to the competition.

The leave of Ivan Basso from the Discovery squad is certainly a loss for the team, the Giro is about to start and the title holder wont be there to defend it therefore the race is shaping up to be wide open.