November 14 2006 — According an AFP report Germany’s Jens Voigt (CSC) says Ivan Basso’s return to pro cycling will be bad for the sport’s image.

Voigt, 34, winner of the 2006 Tour of Germany, claims that race organizers need to take on the role of barriers (against doping). “I am convinced that (Basso’s return) is not good for our image,” said Voigt in an interview on ARD’s website (ARD is a major television channel in Germany).

Basso, 28, won the 2006 Giro, but was among the cyclists implicated in Operacion Puerto, leading to his ban from participating in the 2006 Tour de France. Basso was also dropped from the CSC team where he and Voigt were team mates.

Last week, Discovery Channel Team announced that Basso had signed on with the team for 2007. It was also reported that Basso has his sights on a double victory next year – the Tour de France and the Giro.