Decision day - Basso could race Lombardia

Franco Cosenza, the anti-doping lawyer of Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano (CONI), has shelved Ivan Basso's blood doping case, leaving the 28 year-old rider from Varese, free to start racing again.

Basso was not allowed to start the Tour de France because his name was linked with Operación Puerto, but today it has emerged that he can return to racing. It's now possible that the suspended rider will line up with CSC in Saturday's Giro di Lombardia.

A communique from CONI read, "...CONI, within the limits granted by the international law cfr. att. 182-185-224 and following UCI Antidoping Regulations, has decided to archive the actions against Mr Basso." Further stating that, "in case there is more evidence, even from a third party, [the case] could be re-opened for disciplinary procedures."

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The Spanish courts, still investing the key players in Operación Puerto, have asked that documents containing the riders' identity not be used in other investigations, above all by the national federations in charge of disciplining their riders.

This means that at this moment the Italian Cycling Federation (FCI) doesn't have the permission to use the papers passed to it by the Spanish investigators to defer the case to its disciplinary commission.

Cyclingnews' recent coverage of 'Operación Puerto'

April 2, 2009 - Valverde indignant over possible suspension
April 1, 2009 - Valverde: Italy requests two-year suspension
March 13, 2009 - Le Monde newspaper hit with fine over Puerto allegations
March 2, 2009 - WADA president Fahey asks for Puerto evidence
February 24, 2009 - Spanish federation seeks access to Puerto blood bags
February 20, 2009 - CONI considers Valverde case while UCI awaits verdict
February 19, 2009 - Valverde under criminal investigation
February 11, 2009 - Valverde summonsed for Operación Puerto in Italy
February 8, 2009 - Eight charged in Operación Puerto

Cyclingnews' complete coverage of Operación Puerto