Giro d'Italia champion Ivan Basso asked the Italian Olympic Committee's anti-doping commission Friday to drop an inquiry into allegations he used banned substances.
The committee said it needs more time to evaluate his case, which stems from a Spanish doping investigation that forced Basso and eight other riders to withdraw from the Tour de France in July. Basso has denied the allegations.
``It's been four months that I've been in this situation. For the time being, nothing has changed,'' Basso said after the hearing Friday, which had originally been scheduled for Sept. 12.
Italian Olympic Committee officials said a decision could take a matter of days or weeks. CONI could also decide to send Basso to a disciplinary hearing before the Italian Cycling Federation.
``I'm awaiting the decision with confidence,'' Basso said, adding that he's ready to return to cycling immediately if the case is dropped.
``I could race even tomorrow,'' he said.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
