Lance Armstrong reportedly ready to testify against doping enablers
Lance Armstrong is reportedly ready to testify against several people within the world of cycling who helped cover up his doping past after finally confessing to using performance enhancing drugs, it has been claimed.
According to the New York Times, in his interview with Oprah Winfrey – which was recorded on Monday and will be broadcast on Friday morning (GMT) – the disgraced cyclist has confessed that he took performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career. However, the extent of Armstrong's confession remains unclear.
Admitting to a doping past is Armstrong's first step towards lessening his lifetime ban from cycling. It is also the first step towards testifying against anyone in the world of cycling who may have known about the extent of his doping and perhaps allowed it to continue unchecked.
The disgraced American, who won the Tour de France seven times only to be stripped of the titles, is also said to be in talks with the US department of justice to testify in the whistle-blower case brought by his former team-mate, Floyd Landis. It would involve the cycling team sponsored by the US Postal Service and would see Armstrong testify against several of the team's owners as well as other officials.
On Monday, it was reported that Armstrong apologised to the staff of his Livestrong cancer foundation and said "I'm sorry", an unnamed source told Associated Press.
The sports governing body, the UCI, today released a statement saying Armstrong should testify to the independent commission it set up to look into its handling of the Armstrong affair.
Its statement read: " The UCI will not be making any further comments on matters concerning Lance Armstrong until it has had the opportunity to view his much publicised interview with Oprah Winfrey. The UCI notes the media speculation surrounding the interview and reports that he has finally come clean and admitted doping during his cycling career.
"If these reports are true, we would strongly urge Lance Armstrong to testify to the Independent Commission established to investigate the allegations made against the UCI in the recent USADA reasoned decision on Lance Armstrong and the United States Postal Service (USPS) team."