Caruso acquitted of Puerto involvement

Italian Giampaolo Caruso was acquitted of involvement in the Operación Puerto doping case by the Court for Arbitration for Sport on Thursday. According to Tuttobiciweb, Caruso received notice that the court had rejected a two-year suspension which the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) had recommended in December, 2007.

Caruso said, "I want to start where I left off and return to success as soon as possible, in order to repay my team and sponsors for their support." Caruso now rides for the Ceramica Flaminia - Bossini Docce team, but rode for Liberty Seguros and Astana in 2006 when he was linked with Operación Puerto and forced to stop riding. The Spanish federation dropped its case against Caruso, allowing him to sign with Lampre for 2007.

But the Italians took up the case, keeping Caruso from competition for most of the season. He was highly critical of the process.