October 12, 2006 — The Italian Olympic Committee (Coni) has released a statement recommending that the Italian Cycling Federation drop its case of alleged doping against Ivan Basso, according to an AFP report.

Basso, who is 28, won the Tour of Italy this year but was not allowed to start the 2006 Tour de France, as he was implicated in the blood-doping fiasco uncovered by the Spanish police in their drug sting, Opercion Puerto.

Basso, who was suspended by his Danish team CSC when the news broke, is pleased with this new development and hopes he may be able to race at the Tour of Lombardy this Sunday.