The 'will he or won't he' may be answered before Oprah Winfrey's much-anticipated interview with the cyclist airs Jan. 17. The Associated Press is reporting that Lance Armstrong has confessed to Oprah about using performance-enhancing drugs.
The AP cites "a person familiar with the situation." The newsgathering organization says "the person spoke on condition of anonymity because the interview is to be broadcast Thursday on Winfrey's OWN network."
Armstrong has also reportedly apologized to the Livestrong Foundation staff—the Austin-based non-profit he started to support people fighting cancer.
The reports of his confession and apology come after years of Armstrong denying use of performance-enhancing drugs. Armstrong even turned down much lesser sanctions from the U.S. Anti-Doping agency because he refused to admit guilt.
Fellow cyclists Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton received two and eight-year bans, respectively, from sanctioned sport. Armstrong received a lifetime ban. All were also stripped of their results. For Armstrong, that meant giving up his seven Tour de France titles.
So what does Armstrong gain from a confession now?
Perhaps a deal with USADA will reduce his lifetime ban. Armstrong has been competing in triathlon races since retiring from cycling. But a reported confession may have even more to do with rebuilding his public image.
Sponsors dropped Armstrong in the wake of USADA's doping report. And his role has been reduced at Livestrong—formerly the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
