on 24 april 2007, basso was suspended by discovery channel when the italian national olympic committee (coni) reopened his case. on 30 april 2007 team discovery channel announced that basso would be released from his contract. basso requested to leave the team citing "personal reasons related to the re-opened investigation by the italian national olympic committee (coni)." basso met with the general manager of team discovery channel, bill stapleton, and johan bruyneel, the team director, and the two agreed to allow basso to leave the team. while still claiming to never have actually engaged in blood doping, basso admitted contacting dr. fuentes' clinic with the intention to engage in blood doping.