Source: Lance Armstrong admits using drugs to win Tour de France
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Lance Armstrong confessed to Oprah Winfrey during an interview Monday that he used performance-enhancing drugs to win the Tour de France, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the interview is to be broadcast Thursday on Winfrey's network.
Armstrong was stripped of all seven Tour titles last year following a voluminous U.S. Anti-Doping Agency report that portrayed him as a ruthless competitor, willing to go to any lengths to win the prestigious race.
USADA chief executive Travis Tygart labeled the doping regimen allegedly carried out by the U.S. Postal Service team that Armstrong once led, "The most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen."
After a federal investigation of the cyclist was dropped without charges being brought last year, USADA stepped in with an investigation of its own. The agency deposed 11 former teammates and accused Armstrong of masterminding a complex and brazen drug program that included steroids, blood boosters and a range of other performance-enhancers.
A group of about 10 close friends and advisers to Armstrong left a downtown Austin hotel about three hours after they arrived Monday afternoon for the taping. Among them were Armstrong attorneys Tim Herman and Sean Breen, along with Bill Stapleton, Armstrong's longtime agent, manager and business partner. All declined comment entering and exiting the session.
Soon afterward, Winfrey tweeted: "Just wrapped with (at)lancearmstrong More than 2 1/2 hours. He came READY!" She was scheduled to appear on "CBS This Morning" on Tuesday to discuss the interview.
In a text to the AP on Saturday, Armstrong said: "I told her (Winfrey) to go wherever she wants and I'll answer the questions directly, honestly and candidly. That's all I can say."
Armstrong stopped at the Livestrong Foundation, which he founded, on his way to the interview and said, "I'm sorry" to staff members, some of whom broke down in tears. A person with knowledge of that session said Armstrong choked up and several employees cried during the session.
The person also said Armstrong apologized for letting the staff down and putting Livestrong at risk but he did not make a direct confession to using banned drugs. He said he would try to restore the foundation's reputation, and urged the group to continue fighting for the charity's mission of helping cancer patients and their families.
Armstrong spoke to a room full of about 100 staff members for about 20 minutes, expressing regret for everything the controversy has put them through, the person said. He told them how much the foundation means to him and that he considers the people who work there to be like members of his family. None of the people in the room challenged Armstrong over his long denials of doping.
Winfrey and her crew had earlier said they would film Monday's session at Armstrong's home. As a result, local and international news crews were encamped near the cyclist's Spanish-style villa before dawn.
Armstrong still managed to slip away for a run despite the crowds outside his home. He returned by cutting through a neighbor's yard and hopping a fence.
___
Jim Litke reported from Chicago.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the interview is to be broadcast Thursday on Winfrey's network.
Armstrong was stripped of all seven Tour titles last year following a voluminous U.S. Anti-Doping Agency report that portrayed him as a ruthless competitor, willing to go to any lengths to win the prestigious race.
USADA chief executive Travis Tygart labeled the doping regimen allegedly carried out by the U.S. Postal Service team that Armstrong once led, "The most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen."
After a federal investigation of the cyclist was dropped without charges being brought last year, USADA stepped in with an investigation of its own. The agency deposed 11 former teammates and accused Armstrong of masterminding a complex and brazen drug program that included steroids, blood boosters and a range of other performance-enhancers.
A group of about 10 close friends and advisers to Armstrong left a downtown Austin hotel about three hours after they arrived Monday afternoon for the taping. Among them were Armstrong attorneys Tim Herman and Sean Breen, along with Bill Stapleton, Armstrong's longtime agent, manager and business partner. All declined comment entering and exiting the session.
Soon afterward, Winfrey tweeted: "Just wrapped with (at)lancearmstrong More than 2 1/2 hours. He came READY!" She was scheduled to appear on "CBS This Morning" on Tuesday to discuss the interview.
In a text to the AP on Saturday, Armstrong said: "I told her (Winfrey) to go wherever she wants and I'll answer the questions directly, honestly and candidly. That's all I can say."
Armstrong stopped at the Livestrong Foundation, which he founded, on his way to the interview and said, "I'm sorry" to staff members, some of whom broke down in tears. A person with knowledge of that session said Armstrong choked up and several employees cried during the session.
The person also said Armstrong apologized for letting the staff down and putting Livestrong at risk but he did not make a direct confession to using banned drugs. He said he would try to restore the foundation's reputation, and urged the group to continue fighting for the charity's mission of helping cancer patients and their families.
Armstrong spoke to a room full of about 100 staff members for about 20 minutes, expressing regret for everything the controversy has put them through, the person said. He told them how much the foundation means to him and that he considers the people who work there to be like members of his family. None of the people in the room challenged Armstrong over his long denials of doping.
Winfrey and her crew had earlier said they would film Monday's session at Armstrong's home. As a result, local and international news crews were encamped near the cyclist's Spanish-style villa before dawn.
Armstrong still managed to slip away for a run despite the crowds outside his home. He returned by cutting through a neighbor's yard and hopping a fence.
___
Jim Litke reported from Chicago.
So my post got deleted because I called out those who were supporting him when the report came out. Â Where are they now screaming about failed tests and hearsay now? Â Keep your head buried in the sand and keep supporting this liar and cheat.
If everybody is cheating, then nobody is cheating...
ooooohhhhhh Lance you big ol' NUT
So, who gets those titles that were taken from him now? The 2nd place person who was more than likely on the same crap Lance was but didn't get caught?Â
@Shelly I guess the person who finished in dead last should get them......either the only non-doper or just plain karma.
I told ya so!!!
He's still laughing all the way to the bank.Â
He stole the crown, glory, endorsements and celebrations from the legitimate cyclists. All the many lives and futures of others he changed and supplanted. Bum!
Interesting, and I heard that doping can cause certain forms of cancer. Â Geez, Lance has been duping everyone... Â
Lance has finally admitted he is a doper. What a LOSER!!! And a LIAR too!!!
Gee, Jodie Foster's gay, Lance is a doper...what shocking, shocking developments in the news today. Yawn.
 @anon4444 And Mother Teresa smoked dope!!!
@Eduardo Capistrano @anon4444 go back to capistrano!!!!
 @clem77  Why don't you go back to playing one of the hillbillies in Deliverance?!!
Gain it all, Then ..................LOOSER!!!!!!!!!!
 @signboy Mylon's Rule states that when calling someone a pejorative name, it is incumbent upon them to spell it correctly. The Rule also states that nitpicking at occasional typos and grammatical errors (especially since there is edit button) are verboten territory.
 @Getov Mylon  @signboy There is edit button, indeed. I think you accidentally a word, though.
 @KieferSkunk  @signboy Catch the good one, you did! Thanks, that is fine example.
I can't say I'm all that surprised by his doping. I am however interested as to why he even bothered to admit this after all these years? What is to be gained, and why Oprah? I'm betting she paid him a good sum of money, maybe even to cover is legal expenses if he comes clean. think of the ratings she got on that interview alone? You don't become one of the richest woman in the world without some underlying reason.Â
 @snow surfer I thought fat ole Oprah has retired. I guess they both came back trying to suck up more $$$ from the media and those of us suckers who still care.
Even with the doping, don't you think all those people who want to sue him made a crap load of money off his back. I would think the pressure to perform would be so great from the 100's of people making a nice living off you that it would be really hard not to fall into the doping. I bet the pressure to not fail and let all those people down was crushing.I am not saying what he did was right but I can see how it could happen. Sure he made alot of money but others benefited from his sucess maybe they should give all that money back too.
Obviously Lance is really good at all the things he does....best cyclist in the world...best doper in the world...raises millions for a good cause...He should be given a medal.
 @cyclops Okay, I laughed out loud at that! :)
I still say let them all dope up and let the best doper win.
 @Ankle Biter And they all drop dead of weird cancers before they're 50? Not so sure.
Liar liar pants on fire. Who believes any thing you say, especially I'm sorry. Bite me.
 @al_wa Are you saying you DON'T believe that he used performance-enhancing drugs?
 @KieferSkunk Sorry confusing post. I believed this guy when he denied using drugs, I was on his side. Now he says he is sorry, I don't believe that. I sure he is sorry he got caught. I believed he was guilty when he was stripped of his titles. Now I don't listen to anything he says, he is a liar.
I'm shocked and surprised by this.  I totally believed the USADA was on a witch hunt. </end sarcasm>
Suck it Lance, I actually believed you when you said you didn't do it.
yawn...zzzzzzzz
If Armstrong wanted to keep any of his credibility, he should have done this a very long time ago.
"FIBSTRONG"Â you heard it here first.
I really don't like cheaters. I also don't like the excuse that everyone else is doing it, so I have to, too, in order to compete. Rather than join in--out the cheaters.
Most of you have cheated on tests, husbands/wives, taxes, gambling, and god only knows what else. Remember, when you point your finger an Lance, three fingers are pointing right back at you. It's time to forgive and forget Lance's wrongdoings. If nothing else, the Livestrong foundation has done more for charities, than you could ever imagine.
So, it's ok to cheat, steal and slander if you donate a little of the profits from your crimes to a charity that funds "education."
Â
http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/athletes/lance-armstrong/Its-Not-About-the-Lab-Rats.html
 @The Flash Darn right it is.  How do you think this country was formed and you have all the luxuries you do?
@The Flash Of course it's not ok, but you should always look to the good in everyone. Nobody is perfect...not even Lance. Just because he overcame cancer, doesn't make him better than you or I, and we're no better than Lance for our shortcomings either. It's time to listen, learn and forgive, and look at Lance's mistakes and try to be better than that.
 @commonHuskyfan Your quote: If it comes with conditions, it is not forgiveness. I disagree. A form of criticism. Again... we can agree to disagree at this point. In the case of Armstrong... he willingly and knowingly cheated, lied and stole. He then did so for many years after. If you have the ability to forgive in such a case of lengthy deceit, then so be it. I don't think a court of law will see it that way if he were ever brought up on perjury. I am sorry does not absolve everything entirely and immediately. Oh... and we both perfectly know well what forgiveness and its definition is. The dispute is how and when its applied. Good conversation really....
@dylandawgie I suppose I should look to the good in everyone. Let see... Hitler drew nice paintings. Osama Bin Laden was a family man...
 @d_2 I think you have completely missed my point about forgiveness. Additionally, I never critized you. I simply expressed what I believe to be a more accurate definition of forgiveness.Â
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Your attempts to marginalize my position are noted. I don't mind being a minority either, but I do think it is odd that you choose to state that I am on a pedestal, when I am just stating an opinion.
Â
Nuff said.
 @commonHuskyfan And furthermore.... from all of the articles I have been reading on this topic... you and your position is definitely in the minority. Considering he has not only defrauded persons and corporations for years knowingly... but perjured himself as well. Which is a crime. You can forgive... but you cannot criticize me for not. We'll agree to disagree. Just step down from your pedestal. http://msn.foxsports.com/cycling/story/lance-armstrong-oprah-winfrey-performance-enhancing-drugs-tour-de-france-011413?ocid=ansfox11
 @commonHuskyfan If you have the gumption to forgive w/ simple words, it works for you. The far majority of "I'm sorry's" are empty. If he was truly sorry, he wouldn't have waited this long. If he was truly sorry, he will return his winnings. Your position on forgiveness does not work for everyone. Therefore it does not mean you're right. It is my opinion that this guy is crying Crocodile tears. He has paid no reparations. Others have.... no forgiveness from me. You certainly can.
 @d_2 I meant to say, in the first line, that I don't believe reparations in exchange for good standing is forgiveness. This line escaped my editing.
 @d_2 I'm not saying I approve of his behavior by any means. I'm simply saying that I don't believe reparations in exchange for good standing (or whatever you want to call it) is not forgiveness. I believe true forgiveness comes without any strings attached.
Â
I say this only knowing that there are many individuals who have committed crimes or who have acted unethically who have paid restitution and fees, as well as returning stolen goods, doing prison time - they have paid reparations in many forms - that society still rejects them despite their efforts at seeking forgiveness. If those efforts were the basis of forgiveness, then why aren't they accepted back into society?Â
Â
I believe it is because forgiveness should be given with an expectation of nothing in return.
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That being said, I think there are those who are able to forgive and move on, and there are those who are not so readily able to do so, and I make no judgment on either party.
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 @commonHuskyfan Really? You're completely satisfied when someone simply asks for forgiveness without any additional reparations. Good for you. Lance's apology is lip service. But hey... if you can forgive w/ nothing beyond words, that works great for you. > I'm sorry I robbed the bank. I'm sorry I robbed the bank, here's your money back.
 @d_2   You have a weird idea of forgiveness. If it comes with conditions, it is not forgiveness.
 @dylandawgie Only will forgiveness be considered when he donates all of his dirty/tainted winnings. Until then... he's a cheat, thief and a liar.
He still keeps his massive wealth and is laughing all the way to the bank as he issues his "apologies."Â He is a a disgrace as a human being.
 @Tooby Roosday Yes, and the companies that paraded him for profit will keep theirs too.Â