As reported Ivan Basso signed a contract with US based team Discovery Channel. Italian daily sports Gazzetta Dello Sports reported that 7 times Tour de France winner and co-owner of the Discovery Channel cycling team, Lance Armstrong said: "It's done. We have reached an agreement." Team manager Johan Bruyneel told Belgian newsagency Belga: "If he signs, than please for several years." Bruyneel said he is expecting an official pressrelease from the USA today to confirm the news.

According to Gazzetta Dello Sport Basso signed a contract for three years for the American squad and will join the team on December 3, during the first training session for the 2007 season in Texas, USA.

It's unclear if Basso has to give a DNA sample to the Discovery team, as agreed between the Pro-Tour teams during a meeting in Paris on October 25. As reported on November 3, Johan Bruyneel told cyclingnews.com:"I wasn't present at the meeting, but I can say that I don't believe that it's up to the teams to come up with new rules. The intentions are good, but I'm a team manager, not an attorney, and when certain decisions are taken, sometimes the further consequences have to be considered. The teams really don't have a specific competence in this area; it's really the place of the governing body of cycling." Ivan Basso's lawyer is against the idea that riders have to give a DNA sample to proof their innocence but said last week that Basso is considering it.

The Puerto case against Ivan Basso was closed last month by the Italian Cycling federation.

UPDATE: Pressrelease Discovery Channel team:

Ivan Basso joins Discovery Channel                       Wednesday, November 8, 2006

Ivan Basso will be riding with the Discovery Channel team in the coming 2007 season, Johan Bruyneel, the team's director announced today. Basso has signed a two-season contract with Tailwind Sports, which owns the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team.

"We are excited about Ivan joining the team," Bruyneel said, "and we're looking forward to having him at Discovery Channel's training camp in Austin on December 3."

Bill Stapleton, General Manager of the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team, has grown to know Ivan as a chief rival of seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong. "On behalf of Tailwind Sports, Capital Sports & Entertainment and all of our sponsors, I am very excited to have Ivan as a part of the Team", said Stapleton. "During Lance's final Tour's Ivan pushed Lance to a new level and we expect great things from him in 2007."

The Italian Cycling Federation on 27 October 2006 dropped an inquiry into Basso's alleged involvement in the Spanish "Operacion Puerto" investigation following the Italian Olympic Committee's decision clearing him.

Ivan Basso has now been cleared by his country's top governing sports organizations which examined more than 500 pages of documents and determined on the merits that not only is there no proof of any involvement in illegal practices, but there is no justification for bringing a disciplinary proceeding against Basso.

Billy Campbell, President of Discovery Networks U.S. commented on the signing, stating "Discovery Communications is proud to welcome Ivan Basso to the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team. Team Discovery is a truly world class organization with deep international focus. He is a tremendous talent who only enhances an already strong roster. We look forward to a successful and winning 2007 for the entire Discovery Channel team."