Former Giro D'Italia winner Ivan Basso will become an anti-doping campaigner for governing body UCI.

Italian Basso is banned until October due to his involvement in the Operacion Puerto doping scandal.

UCI president Pat McQuaid backed the news that Basso will come on board in the fight against drug cheats.

"He has made a mistake," McQuaid said. "He has paid. I believe he will interpret this role to the best of his ability, for us and for the Italian cycling federation."

The 2008 Giro will begin on Saturday with the team time trial in Palermo on the island of Sicily.

Reuters