The best Italian cyclist in the past few years could receive a blow from his own team. Although CSC manager Bjarne Riis always defended his client related to the "Puerto Operation" doping scandal, Basso might have to look for another team in the future. And the paradox is he may very well be cleared out of all doping allegations.

Unfortunately, CSC's sponsors don't really like the idea of an alleged doped rider to compete for the Danish team. So Basso may have to pay the price. Caught in the middle of the doping scandal along with Jan Ullrich, the Italian rider has a very good chance of being proven innocent.

"Not everything is about the law. Basso must not only prove his innocence in court, he must also prove it to us. I find it difficult to believe Basso has a future with CSC -- unless he is totally cleared. It's not so crucial what I think but it is crucial that the evidence he is up against is very incriminating. The way I see it, even if Basso has just been in contact with Fuentes, he has lied to me and betrayed the team and our values. Then he's finished with us", admitted Riis.

Only hours before the Tour de France got under way, Ivan Basso was suspended by his team due to drug-scandal allegation concerning the 2006 winner of Il Giro. He was thought to have been in close relationship with Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, the Spaniard that supplied a number of cyclists, tennis players and footballers with irretraceable banned substances.

After almost 2 month from the scandal, neither Ivan Basso, nor Jan Ullrich was proven guilty of anything. Still, the German rider was sacked by T-Mobile and Basso looks to go on the same path only a month after. CSC is yet to issue a statement concerning their rider's situation.