Last Updated, Wednesday, 11:07 a.m. The year before his seventh and final Tour de France victory, Lance Armstrong offered to donate “in excess of $150,000″ to the antidoping agency in charge of keeping American athletes from using performance-enhancing drugs, according to the organization’s chief executive. 
 
 The latest accusation against Armstrong, the disgraced former cyclist, was made by the current head of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, Travis Tygart, in an interview with CBS News posted online on Tuesday. In October, Usada stripped Armstrong of all of his titles and barred him from competition for life following the release of a 202-page report into what the agency called “the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen.” 
 
 As my colleague Juliet Macur reported, Armstrong, who has so far denied all allegations of cheating, “has told associates and antidoping officials that he is considering publicly admitting that he used banned performance-enhancing drugs and blood transfusions during his cycling career.” Late Tuesday, Oprah Winfrey announced that she “will speak exclusively with Lance Armstrong in his first no-holds-barred interview,” to be broadcast next week on her network. 
 
 BREAKING NEWS: Looking forward to this conversation with @lancearmstrong: http://t.co/GwSmBhdW #NextChapter — Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) 9 Jan 13 
 
 As the cycling journalist Lionel Birnie notes, the Oprah Winfrey Network is a joint venture with Discovery Communications, the broadcaster that sponsored Armstrong’s team in 2005. 
 
 Lance is going on Oprah, partly-produced by Discovery Channel, sponsors of Lance’s 7th and final fraudulent Tour win. Somehow fitting. — Lionel Birnie (@lioneljbirnie) 9 Jan 13 
 
 Samantha Lane, a reporter for The Age in Australia, pointed out on Twitter that Winfrey and Armstrong looked comfortable together in a photograph published in the May 2004 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine with an interview of the cyclist before that year’s Tour de France. 
 
 Oprah & Lance, in happier times (pic from her website). http://t.co/TMpMfYfk — Sam Lane (@SamJaneLane) 9 Jan 13 
 
 The photograph showed Armstrong in his Discovery Channel uniform and Winfrey, leaning on his shoulder, wearing a yellow, Livestrong bracelet. 
 
 The network’s logo was emblazoned across the victor’s yellow jersey Armstrong wore on the top step of the podium in Paris that year, as he lectured “the people that don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the skeptics.” 
 
 Directly addressing those who accused him of doping that day, Armstrong said, “I’m sorry for you, I’m sorry you can’t dream big and I’m sorry you don’t believe in miracles, but this is one hell of a race, this is a great sporting event and you should stand around and believe. You should believe in these athletes and you should believe in these people. I’m a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live and there’s no secrets — this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it.” 
 
 The notion of Armstrong confessing on Oprah was pre-mocked nearly two years ago by the bike racers and cartoonists Andy Shen and Dan Schmalz in their cult comic strip about the soap-operatic world of professional cycling, “As the Toto Turns,” for nyvelocity.com. 
 
 Andy Shen and Dan Schmalz, nyvelocity.com 
 
 Another journalist who writes about cycling, Shane Stokes, suggested that Armstrong might expect Winfrey to go easy on him, since she let another disgraced athlete, Marion Jones, claim during a 2008 interview that she had used performance-enhancing drugs unintentionally. 
 
 Just after news of the interview broke, Kathy LeMond, whose husband, Greg, is now the only American to win the Tour de France, offered to put Winfrey in touch with people who could give her a crash course on the culture of professional cycling. 
 
 .@Oprah I hope you get educated before the interview. I know people that can help you. — Kathy LeMond (@KathyLeMond) 9 Jan 13 
 
 Joe Lindsey of Bicycling Magazine asked his Twitter followers to help Winfrey by suggesting some tough questions. 
 
 I am trying to anticipate some of “no holds barred” questions in Oprah’s Lance interview. How about some suggestions? #questionsforlance — joelindsey (@joelindsey) 9 Jan 13 
 
 That’s pretty good. RT @BBQ44 what did you tell your kids or will/have you? #questionsforlance — joelindsey (@joelindsey) 9 Jan 13 
 
 The complete CBS interview with the antidoping official is scheduled to be broadcast on Wednesday, during the premier of a new program, “60 Minutes Sports.” In one portion released on Tuesday, Tygart said it was “totally inappropriate” that Armstrong had donated about $100,000 to the International Cycling Union, a regulatory body involved in drug testing, during his career. He then revealed that someone representing Armstrong had offered to give the American antidoping agency more than $150,000 at some point in 2004. “It was a clear conflict of interest for Usada,” Tygart said. “We had no hesitation in rejecting that offer.” Pressed further about the amount of the proposed donation, Tygart said that it was about $250,000. 
 
 In another portion of the interview, broadcast on the CBS Evening News on Tuesday, Tygart said that Armstrong had tried to intimidate former teammates who had testified to a federal grand jury about his doping. The official also revealed that he personally had received death threats as a result of his investigation into the cancer survivor who was once a hero to millions. ||||| It was during his interview last month with Oprah Winfrey that Lance Armstrong admitted to doping during his illustrious cycling career, including his victories at the Tour de France. (Photo: George Burns, AP) Story Highlights Armstrong paid nearly $12 million in bonus money for Tour victories 
 
 Armstrong denies doping during 2009-10 comeback 
 
 Attorney blames 'cheating culture' in cycling 
 
 Lance Armstrong does not plan to pay back nearly $12 million in bonus money he received for winning the Tour de France despite his recent admission that he cheated to win the race every time from 1999 to 2005. 
 
 The company that paid the bonuses said it expects to file a lawsuit against Armstrong this week to get its money back. But Armstrong's attorney, Tim Herman, sees it differently. He compared the situation to other sports figures who were suspended for various infractions but did not have to give back their paychecks. 
 
 "My only point is no athlete ever, to my understanding, has ever gone back and paid back his compensation," Herman said. "Not (New Orleans Saints coach) Sean Payton or anybody else. They were suspended, but nobody said you've got to give your paycheck back." 
 
 In an interview with USA TODAY Sports, Herman shared his thoughts on various issues stemming from Armstrong's confession that he used banned drugs and blood transfusions to boost himself as a cyclist. Armstrong's admission came after years of false denials and lawsuits against those who dared to challenge him about it, including SCA Promotions, the company that paid the Tour bonuses. 
 
 LANCE'S CONFESSION: His story was 'one big lie' 
 
 Some of the issues Herman addressed are: 
 
 Armstrong's athletic eligibility: Herman said Armstrong does not expect to compete again in sanctioned sports after being banned for life because of doping. But he still plans to cooperate with anti-doping officials even if there is no reward for him in terms of restored eligibility. 
 
 "He doesn't expect it (eligibility), and his offer (to cooperate) is not contingent on that," Herman said. 
 
 To get his ban reduced, Armstrong would be required to provide a full confession under oath and further assistance to help clean up the sport of cycling. If he meets that burden, his ban could be reduced to "no less than eight years," according to the World Anti-Doping Agency code. Armstrong, 41, would be near 50 by the time an eight-year ban expires. 
 
 "I read the rule like you do," Herman said. "An eight-year ban, that would be a lifetime ban (for Armstrong)." 
 
 Doping in 2009-10: Herman said Armstrong did not dope during his comeback years of 2009 and 2010, and he disputes blood evidence that indicates otherwise. U.S. Anti-Doping Agency chief Travis Tygart disagrees. He told 60 Minutes that the odds are one-to-a-million that the blood test results from those years are because of something other than doping. 
 
 "It's my understanding that training at altitude or living at altitude, which he was doing at the time, that's a variable that is unaccounted for in their analyses," Herman said. "It's certainly not one in a million." 
 
 In his televised confession to Oprah Winfrey, Armstrong said he stopped doping after winning his seventh and last Tour de France in 2005. 
 
 The doping culture: Herman stressed that Armstrong was a product of the doping culture in cycling and not the intimidating doping "boss" portrayed by USADA and others. 
 
 "It's a European culture that all these Americans were dropped into," Herman said. "It's been going on for a hundred years. To hear Tygart tell it, Lance Armstrong is responsible for the culture he was dropped into on a team (that) was engaged in misconduct long before he got to the team." 
 
 Herman said Armstrong had little choice. 
 
 "He would do what's asked of him to contribute and be part of the solution," he said of Armstrong. "He was a 19-year-old kid dropped in this culture, just like everybody else. He didn't create it. ... eventually you only have two choices: you can go home or conform. He's acknowledged his mistake, but he's like virtually every other rider who was a competitor of any significance." 
 
 PHOTOS: ARMSTRONG THROUGH THE YEARS 
 
 Mistrust and cooperation: Herman said mistrust has gotten in the way of Armstrong cooperating with USADA and Tygart, his longtime nemesis. During his appearance on 60 Minutes, Tygart accused Armstrong of lying to Winfrey about several issues. 
 
 "That isn't all that conducive to a feeling of mutual trust," Herman said. 
 
 RELATED: Will Lance cooperate with USADA? 
 
 He also said USADA "doesn't have jurisdiction" to clean up cycling because cycling is a mostly European sport. Armstrong instead hopes to cooperate with other anti-doping officials, perhaps from the World Anti-Doping Agency. But that might not happen any time soon because of disputes involving WADA and the International Cycling Union (UCI). 
 
 "Whether it's a Truth and Reconciliation Commission or some comprehensive attempt to clean things up, it doesn't make any difference as long as something like that is convened," Herman said. "Lance will definitely cooperate." 
 
 Not repaying the bonuses: Herman makes a legal argument when explaining why Armstrong should not repay the Tour de France bonuses even though he was stripped of all seven of his Tour titles. He said it's a contractual matter between Armstrong and his cycling team's owner, Tailwind Sports. 
 
 Tailwind had the performance bonuses insured by SCA Promotions, which withheld payment in 2004 because of suspicions that Armstrong cheated to win them. In response, Armstrong and Tailwind sued SCA for payment, leading to litigation in which Armstrong denied under oath that he took performance-enhancing drugs. 
 
 SCA relented and paid Armstrong a settlement, but now it wants a refund, especially after watching Armstrong tell Winfrey that he indeed engaged in doping every time he won the Tour. SCA attorney Jeff Tillotson said the company is owed about $12.5 million including legal costs for Tour bonuses in 2002, 2003 and 2004. 
 
 "I thought he was remorseful," Tillotson said Monday. "Doesn't sound like it to me… Does he seriously think he can escape liability by maintaining this fiction?" 
 
 Herman previously noted the settlement terms say the case cannot be reopened. He also said Tailwind was obligated to pay Armstrong the bonuses whether SCA covered the cost or not. 
 
 "The bottom line is that Tailwind bought the (insurance) policy (from SCA)," Herman said. "Tailwind paid the premium. Tailwind made the claim, and the money (from SCA) was paid to Tailwind, not Lance Armstrong. I'm sure people will characterize that as a loophole, but it's a pretty significant factor." 
 
 MORE: Readers sue Armstrong over lies in books 
 
 What's next? Herman said Armstrong plans to make a "positive impact" in much the same way he has with Livestrong, the charity he founded to support cancer survivors. 
 
 "He's going to continue to do what he can to continue to earn back the trust that he's forgone with his conduct," Herman said. "That's an ongoing process." 
 
 Follow Brent Schrotenboer on Twitter @Schrotenboer ||||| Story highlights Lance Armstrong has agreed to 90-minute interview, Oprah Winfrey's network announces 
 
 Release says Armstrong is expected to talk about doping allegations 
 
 Armstrong has been working out in Hawaii, doing triathlon training 
 
 Lance Armstrong will give his first television interview since being stripped of his Tour de France titles to Oprah Winfrey, her network announced Tuesday. 
 
 A news release from the Oprah Winfrey Network said the 90-minute "no-holds-barred" interview will air at 9 p.m. ET January 17 and will be simulcast on Oprah.com. 
 
 Winfrey will ask the disgraced cycling star to address the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's report, which said there was overwhelming evidence he was directly involved in a sophisticated doping program, the statement said. 
 
 The International Cycling Union, which choose not to appeal the USADA's lifetime ban, stripped Armstrong of his record seven Tour victories in October. 
 
 The World Anti-Doping Agency also agreed with the sanctions, which means Armstrong may not compete in sports governed by WADA code. 
 
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 Before the ban, he was competing in Ironman triathlons and had won two of the five events he had entered. Since the ban he has entered two non-sanctioned events. 
 
 According to his Twitter feed, Armstrong has been biking, running and swimming in Hawaii. The Winfrey interview will take place at Armstrong's home in Austin, Texas. 
 
 The New York Times reported last week that Armstrong, 41, was contemplating publicly admitting he used illegal performance-enhancing drugs. Such an admission might lead toward Armstrong regaining his eligibility. 
 
 Attorney Tim Herman, in a recent e-mail to CNN Sports, did not address whether Armstrong told associates -- as reported by the newspaper -- that he was considering an admission. 
 
 Armstrong has repeatedly and vehemently denied that he used banned performance-enhancing drugs as well as illegal blood transfusions during his cycling career. 
 
 In the past, Armstrong has argued that he took more than 500 drug tests and never failed. In its 202-page report that detailed Armstrong's alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs and blood transfusions, the USADA said it had tested Armstrong less than 60 times and the International Cycling Union conducted about 215 tests. 
 
 The agency did not say that Armstrong ever failed a test, but his former teammates testified as to how they beat tests or avoided the tests altogether. 
 
 The New York Times, citing unnamed associates and anti-doping officials, said Armstrong has been in discussions with USADA officials and hopes to meet with David Howman, chief of the World Anti-Doping Agency. The newspaper said none of the people with knowledge of Armstrong's situation wanted to be identified because it would jeopardize their access to information on the matter. 
 
 Under World Anti-Doping Agency rules, an athlete who confesses to using performance-enhancing drugs may be eligible for a reinstatement. 
 
 Armstrong has been an icon for his cycling feats and celebrity, bringing more status to a sport wildly popular in some nations but lacking big-name recognition, big money and mass appeal in the United States. 
 
 He fought back from testicular cancer to win the Tour from 1999 to 2005. He raised millions via his Lance Armstrong Foundation to help cancer victims and survivors, an effort illustrated by trendy yellow "LiveSTRONG" wristbands that helped bring in the money. 
 
 But Armstrong has long been dogged by doping allegations, with compatriot Floyd Landis -- who was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title after failing a drug test -- making a series of claims in 2011. 
 
 Armstrong sued the USADA last year to stop its investigation of him, arguing it did not have the right to prosecute him. But after a federal judge dismissed the case, Armstrong said he would no longer participate in the investigation. 
 
 In October 2012, Armstrong was stripped of his titles and banned from cycling. Weeks later, he stepped down from the board of his foundation, Livestrong. 
 
 It is unclear whether Armstrong would face criminal prosecution for perjury should he confess. Armstrong was involved in several cases where he gave sworn testimony that he never used banned drugs.
– Lance Armstrong is rumored to be ready to confess to drug use—and it could happen on Oprah's show. The disgraced cyclist will give a "no-holds-barred" interview to Oprah Winfrey that will air on her network next week, CNN reports. In his first formal interview since he was banned from the sport and stripped of his titles for doping, Armstrong will "address the alleged doping scandal, years of accusations of cheating, and charges of lying about the use of performance-enhancing drugs throughout his storied cycling career," the network says in a statement. In a 60 Minutes Sports interview to be aired tonight, the chief of the US Anti-Doping Agency says an Armstrong representative offered to donate around $250,000 to the agency, reports the New York Times. Travis Tygart, who accuses Armstrong of trying to intimidate former teammates, says the 2004 offer represented a clear conflict of interest. "We had no hesitation in rejecting that offer," he says. Tygart says he received death threats during his organization's investigation of Armstrong.