Bjarne Riis confirmed, over the weekend, that Ivan Basso would be welcome back at Team CSC if he could prove his innocence. He also noted, however, that the team would not be assisting him in doing so (presumably due to contract stipulations). While Riis has spoken with Basso since the suspension, most of the information he receives now comes through the media and rumors, as with everyone else.

Riis comments on the 38-page report: “It was written in Spanish, and I was just given a short summary of what was in it. I have received no official papers, and I get my information through the media like everyone else”. Riis notes that even though he was thus not presented with any convincing evidence of Ivan Basso’s guilt, the decision to suspend Basso was never in doubt. The ProTour teams had decided to suspend anyone under investigation, and obviously Basso was part of the investigation. Riis comments that even if the suspension may seem unjust if Basso turns out to be innocent, it is necessary to act like this in order to protect the integrity of cycling with respect to doping.

Riis however, believes in Basso. “I would like to note that there is no case yet started against Ivan, and I have no reason to suppose that he has lied to me.”

Riis will not demand that Basso takes a DNA test, as T-Mobile seems prepared to do with Ullrich.

“No, I have not for a moment considered it, and juridically, I doubt I have that power. That would be an invasion of privacy. Let us also remember that he is yet not accused of doping. He is accuded of being part of an investigation into doping.”

Among the latest allegations published, are allegations that Basso received a “blood boost” on the 12 may, a couple of days before he won a stage in the Giro d’Italia and took the pink jersey. Riis responds to this as follows:

“Mostly, I would like to simply say No comment. Partly because I have only just been told about this rumor by a couple of passing Danish tourists who I ran into after the end of the stage here in Strassbourg. Partly because it is so fantastic an allegation, that I can’t at all put it into context with the reality I have seen.

“I would very much like to publish the test numbers we have collected over the long period of time while we have worked with Ivan, but unfortunately these numbers are of course private to Ivan, and the initiative to make them public will have to come from Ivan himself. However, I can only underline that these numbers do not provide the least bit of indication that he has been manipulating his blood.”

Asked about the code-name Birillo, and whether this is in fact the name of Ivan’s dog, Riis has the following to say:

“I believe Ivan has a dog, but whether it is called Birillo I do not know. Off-hand, the name means nothing to me.”

Despite his refusal to put pressure on the suspended Team CSC captain, Riis notes that the team obviously would like a DNA test to be done, in order to determine Basso’s innocence or guilt.

In certain sections of the Danish media, Bjarne Riis is set to be hung and quartered as the accomplice to Ivan Basso, despite Riis’s protests that he has no reason to suspect any ill-doing on the part of his star. In particular, given Riis’s close rapport with his Italian captain, there are many questioning how Basso would be able to dope without Riis knowing.

Riis, however, receives support both from CSC and Laurent Lefevre (Quick-Step boss). CSC has announced their continued support of Team CSC, and that they intend to continue supporting the team regardless of whether Basso is convicted of doping or not.