The Discovery Channel cycling team has responded to the December 8 decision by the International Professional Cycling Teams (IPCT) to exclude the team from its membership over its signing of Italian Ivan Basso, implicated in the Operación Puerto inquiry. In a similar move in October, IPCT excluded Manolo Saiz's Active Bay company, a decision that was confirmed by a formal vote during the group's December 8 meeting in Brussels. The Discovery Channel's response follows. — Editor

The International Professional Cycling Teams (IPCT), a business group developed to represent the marketing interests of the UCI ProTour teams, but which has no governing authority, met December 8, in Brussels, Belgium. During this meeting the group discussed Team Discovery Channel’s signing of Ivan Basso.

Contrary to a report that the Discovery Channel Team was voted out as a member of the IPCT for this, expulsion did not take place. The discussion by IPCT cited Basso’s signing as a violation of a gentlemen’s agreement regarding the signing of riders implicated in the Operation Puerto affair.

Sports director Johan Bruyneel was not in attendance, but did have representation at the meeting. Bruyneel stated: “There was no vote on Friday and we have not been expelled from the IPCT. Talk of our removal from the IPCT obviously concerns me on a variety of levels, and we intend to enter into immediate discussions with team representatives about their concerns.”

Team Discovery Channel signed Ivan Basso in November after the Italian cycling federation dropped all inquiries into his alleged involvement in the Spanish Operación Puerto investigation as well as being cleared by the Italian Olympic Committee. Additionally, UCI president Pat McQuaid told the AFP, "The Italians have closed the files on Basso, and he has been cleared to race. The Spanish have also closed files on riders who have been involved.”

Discovery Channel and Ivan Basso also confirmed last month that under the terms of their contract, the Italian rider had agreed to provide a DNA sample if it is requested.

The Discovery Channel team has a license to compete as a member of the UCI ProTour through 2008. On an annual basis, all ProTour Teams are required to register with the UCI and provide a full financial disclosure as a part of the process. Each team is renewed by the UCI upon review of all documents. The Discovery Channel team has submitted all of the necessary documentation required to renew the team in 2007 and has received the proper approval from the UCI.

“Contrary to what has been written, the discussions surrounding the IPCT group have no effect on our ProTour license and we expect to race a full calendar in 2007,” commented general manager Bill Stapleton.

The IPCT has planned to reconvene on January 11 and Team Discovery Channel will be in attendance.