``After all that has happened, especially this summer, Team CSC and Ivan Basso have agreed to part ways,'' CSC manager Bjarne Riis manager said in a statement. ``It has been a very difficult decision, but both parties agree it is time to move on.''

Basso was excluded from this year's Tour de France after being implicated in a Spanish doping investigation. He was one of nine riders to appear on a list of cyclists who allegedly had contact with a Spanish doctor accused of running a blood doping clinic in Madrid.

The Italian Olympic Committee recommended last week that doping allegations against Basso be dropped. Basso has always denied doping allegations.

``We would like to take this opportunity to thank Ivan for his time with the team and for the great results he and the team have achieved together,'' the CSC statement said. ``At the same time, we wish him all the best for the future.''

Basso was under contract with CSC until 2008. However, he and Riis met last week in Lugano, Switzerland, to discuss the rider's future.

Basso told French sports daily L'Equipe on Monday that he has been courted by Lance Armstrong's former team, Discovery Channel.

``They made me a concrete proposal but I am open to other solutions,'' he said.

Discovery has been looking for a replacement for Armstrong, who retired after winning his seventh consecutive Tour de France in 2005.

Basso said there was also a chance he could join an Italian team.