Basso joins Discovery

Italian climbing specialist Ivan Basso has joined the Discovery Channel team for the 2007 season, the American outfit said yesterday. "Maintaining the standard of fielding the strongest team on the road, Discovery is proud to announce the addition of...

Italian climbing specialist Ivan Basso has joined the Discovery Channel team for the 2007 season, the American outfit said yesterday.

"Maintaining the standard of fielding the strongest team on the road, Discovery is proud to announce the addition of 2006 Giro winner and 2005 Tour de France runner-up Ivan Basso," Lance Armstrong's former employers said in a statement.

No further details of the agreement were made available.

Formerly team leader with Danish outfit CSC, Basso was one of nine riders withdrawn from this year's Tour de France on the eve of the race after they were linked to an anti-doping investigation in Spain.

The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) dropped all charges against Basso in October and the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) also abandoned disciplinary proceedings for the cyclists, leaving them free to compete.

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