In brief: Basso receives maximum two-year ban

A year of secrets and lies caught up with Ivan Basso on Friday.

The 2006 Giro d’Italia champion, who also finished on the Tour de France podium twice, received a maximum two-year doping penalty from the Italian cycling federation.

With that, he became the first high-profile rider suspended for the recent scandals rocking cycling.

Last month, Basso acknowledged involvement in the Spanish blood-doping probe.

“In his newly published book, Tour de France champion Floyd Landis claims the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency spent so much money in an obsessed mission to nail him for drug violations that it passed on prosecuting others.

Landis’ book, “Positively False: The Real Story of How I Won the Tour de France,” is due for release June 26.

One of the book’s revelations is Landis’ claim that his consultant, Paul Scott, heard from contacts inside the anti-doping community that USADA declined to pursue two strong cases of doping violations by American athletes in the fall of 2006.

Landis has estimated the cost of his defense will be around $2 million.

USADA’s annual budget is around $12 million, and Landis implies that if the agency’s costs were about the same as his, its ability to pursue other cases would be harmed.

Basketball

Carroll dodges draft

Jaycee Carroll withdrew from the NBA draft and will return for his senior year at Utah State.

Carroll led the Western Athletic Conference in scoring last season (21.3). The deadline is Monday.

“Nevada point guard Ramon Sessions will forgo his senior season and remain in the NBA draft.

“Former LSU women’s coach Pokey Chatman has worked out a contract settlement in the wake of her abrupt resignation. LSU will give Chatman $85,000 in postseason bonus money, on top of the $75,000 both sides agreed she is due under the disputed contract.

Football

Griz suspend Wilson

The University of Montana has indefinitely suspended Jimmy Wilson, a cornerback charged with murder earlier this week, from the team, head coach Bobby Hauck announced.

Wilson, 20, is charged in the June 2 shooting death of 29-year-old Kevin Smoot in Lancaster, Calif.

“Utah Blaze (Arena Football) receiver/linebacker Justin Skaggs died in Salt Lake City, one day after emergency brain surgery.

Skaggs, recently diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, had surgery Thursday to relieve swelling after he complained about a severe headache.

Miscellany

Nadal falters

French Open champion Rafael Nadal was knocked out of the Queen’s Club grass-court championships in London, losing 7-5, 7-6 (0) to 106th-ranked Nicolas Mahut of France.

Second-seeded Andy Roddick advanced to the semifinals after defeating Marin Cilic 6-4, 7-6 (5).

“Ultimate fighter Royce Gracie tested positive for a steroid after winning a fight earlier this month and could face a year’s suspension, the head of the California Athletic Commission said.