The Ineos team was forced to withdraw their runners from the Italian Championship last month after Leonardo Basso tested positive for coronavirus, but told Tuttobiciweb that two other PCR tests had tested negative, while further serological research revealed that he had never had COVID-19.
Basso’s case mirrors that of his compatriot Oscar Gatto (Bora-Hansgrohe), who returned what later turned out to be a false positive in a pre-Brittany Classic PCR last week.
Basso and teammates Ineos Filippo Ganna, Salvatore Puccio and Gianni Moscon did not take part in the Italian Championship road race after their positive control was revealed the day before the event.
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“I won the report on Saturday afternoon before arriving at the hotel, and the protocol was activated, which means that the total team got rid of the Italian championships and everyone walked away at home,” Basso told Tuttobiciweb. “On Monday, August 24, I had a moment test, which turned out to be negative. My family, my friend and my contacts on the team also produced negative evidence.
“To be sure that the first one was false positive, I had a 3rd pattern on Friday the 28th, which was also negative, and then I underwent serological research that checked for the absence of antibodies against the virus in my body. first positive check an error. “
Basso spent 11 days in isolation at home after learning of the initial positive test, but has been back on the road for the next two days and plans to resume the race at the Giro di Toscana on September 16.
Filippo Ganna and Salvatore Puccio are on the provisional list of Tirreno-Adriatico, which begins on Monday.
“I don’t know if there are more effective controls than we do, but maybe it would be a smart concept to double control with a sample A and B, as is the case with anti-doping control. “I don’t know if it would be scientifically feasible,” Basso said.
“I don’t have the qualifications to say it and I know we have to deal with a really confusing situation. What we want is to check the speed of the moment to avoid instances like mine. “
All Racers and Tour de France staff will have to go through their next PCR test run on Monday’s rest day, and any team that registers two or more positive tests will be excluded from the race.
Following considerations after several reports of false positives in the professional cycle, ASO showed that immediate secondary tests would be conducted to verify any positive cases.
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