Milan - Ivan Basso is to become an anti-doping ambassador for the governing cycling body UCI after completing a doping-related ban in October, UCI boss Pat McQuaid said. "He made a mistake and paid for it. I believe he will be a good anti-doping ambassador for us and the Italian cycling federation," Italy's La Gazzetta Dello Sport on Tuesday quoted McQuaid as saying.
McQuaid said that Basso's case was similar to that of Scotsman David Millar, who works for the World Anti-Doping Agency after his return from a doping ban.
Basso was banned for two years for his role in a Spanish scandal around doctor Eufemiano Fuentes. The Italian admitted to have sent his blood to Fuentes, but insisted he did not undergo transfusions. He was banned for two years until October 24, 2008.
Basso recently signed for the Liquigas team which was subsequently kicked out of the ProTour as all teams have agreed not to sign doping offenders until two years after the expiration of their bans.
