Disgraced cycling star Lance Armstrong is poised to admit he took performance-enhancing drugs during a career that included seven Tour de France victories, according to a published report.
Mr. Armstrong, who has already been stripped of most of his titles by cycling officials, is said to be planning to tape an interview Monday in Austin, Texas, with television host Oprah Winfrey to discuss his career in detail. The interview will be aired Thursday night on the Oprah Winfrey Network.
The possibility of a confession was first reported late Friday night by USA Today, citing an anonymous source. Despite a damning report late last year by the U.S. Doping Agency that quoted many of his longtime American teammates, Mr. Armstrong has staunchly denied using illegal drugs during his career. The report’s release led to the loss of his Tour de France titles and a slew of lucrative commercial endorsements, and he was banned for life from professional cycling.
Mr. Armstrong and his legal representatives would not confirm the newspaper’s report, but in a statement Saturday hinted he will go farther than in the past in discussion the controversies swirling around his career.
“I told [Ms. Winfrey] to go wherever she wants, and I’ll answer the questions directly, honestly, candidly,” he said in the statement sent to The Associated Press. “That’s all I can say.”
• David R. Sands can be reached at dsands@washingtontimes.com.
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