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| Lance Armstrong set for Oprah Winfrey interview | Lance Armstrong set for Oprah Winfrey interview |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US cyclist Lance Armstrong will be interviewed by chat show host Oprah Winfrey, amid reports that he might publicly admit to doping. | US cyclist Lance Armstrong will be interviewed by chat show host Oprah Winfrey, amid reports that he might publicly admit to doping. |
| Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles by the sport's governing body, following a report by the US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada). | Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles by the sport's governing body, following a report by the US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada). |
| Winfrey's OWN network said the 90-minute interview would address "years of accusations of cheating". | Winfrey's OWN network said the 90-minute interview would address "years of accusations of cheating". |
| Armstrong maintained his innocence as he received a life ban from Usada. | |
| But the New York Times reported on Friday that the 41-year-old was considering a public admission that he used banned performance-enhancing drugs. An admission could lead to an apparent bid to return to competing in marathons and triathlons, the paper reported. | But the New York Times reported on Friday that the 41-year-old was considering a public admission that he used banned performance-enhancing drugs. An admission could lead to an apparent bid to return to competing in marathons and triathlons, the paper reported. |
| The interview announcement was first made on Oprah Winfrey's Twitter account on Tuesday, and confirmed when Armstrong retweeted it 15 minutes later. | The interview announcement was first made on Oprah Winfrey's Twitter account on Tuesday, and confirmed when Armstrong retweeted it 15 minutes later. |
| The interview - his first since being stripped of his wins - will be broadcast on 17 January on Winfrey's OWN network and live-streamed online. | The interview - his first since being stripped of his wins - will be broadcast on 17 January on Winfrey's OWN network and live-streamed online. |
| 2004 donation offer? | 2004 donation offer? |
| Armstrong ended his fight against doping charges in August 2012. In October, Usada released a 1,000-page report saying he had been at the heart of "the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme" ever seen in sport. | Armstrong ended his fight against doping charges in August 2012. In October, Usada released a 1,000-page report saying he had been at the heart of "the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme" ever seen in sport. |
| Tyler Hamilton, Armstrong's former team and room-mate, himself an ex-doper, told me last year he hoped Armstrong would confess all, for his own sake. "He'll feel so much better the morning after," he said. | |
| Armstrong might also hope - as has happened to others who've co-operated with anti-doping authorities - lifetime bans have been commuted, reputations at least partially salvaged. | |
| For Armstrong, though, the path from confession to catharsis to closure would have particular problems. | |
| He has civil court cases against him following last year's ruinous Usada report. If - and it's still a huge if - he confesses to doping, could he open himself up to perjury charges? And would his charities and his sport just watch his pirouette, and then keep their backs turned on him? | |
| He was stripped of his titles by the International Cycling Union (UCI) shortly afterwards and given a lifetime ban from the sport. | He was stripped of his titles by the International Cycling Union (UCI) shortly afterwards and given a lifetime ban from the sport. |
| Armstrong also resigned as chairman of the Livestrong foundation - the cancer charity he created - after the cycling body's decision. | Armstrong also resigned as chairman of the Livestrong foundation - the cancer charity he created - after the cycling body's decision. |
| His lawyer, Tim Herman, has described the Usada report as a "one-sided hatchet job" and the cyclist himself has accused the agency of offering "corrupt inducements" to other riders to speak out against him. | His lawyer, Tim Herman, has described the Usada report as a "one-sided hatchet job" and the cyclist himself has accused the agency of offering "corrupt inducements" to other riders to speak out against him. |
| It is believed he is considering an admission because he wants to resume his athletic career, and has shown an interest in competing in triathlons. | It is believed he is considering an admission because he wants to resume his athletic career, and has shown an interest in competing in triathlons. |
| Asked whether the 41-year-old was set to come clean, Mr Herman told the New York Times: "Lance has to speak for himself on that." | |
| The BBC understands Armstrong has held recent discussions with other cyclists who have themselves confessed to doping. | The BBC understands Armstrong has held recent discussions with other cyclists who have themselves confessed to doping. |
| But there are a number of obstacles to a full confession. | |
| The New York Times reported Armstrong's supporters are concerned he could face perjury charges if he confesses to using performance-enhancing drugs, because he made sworn testimony in a 2005 court case that he had never done so. | |
| In addition, the cyclist faces a number of legal cases: | |
| • A federal whistle-blower case filed by former team-mate Floyd Landis which accuses Armstrong and several United States Postal Service cycling team officials of defrauding the government by allowing doping | |
| • A civil lawsuit brought by Dallas-based insurance company SCA Promotions, which paid millions of dollars to Armstrong for his Tour victories | |
| • A civil lawsuit by the UK's Sunday Times newspaper to recover $500,000 paid to Armstrong to settle a 2006 libel lawsuit after it published claims from a French book co-authored by its then sports editor | |
| Separately, the head of Usada told a US investigative programme that Armstrong had offered the agency a donation of some $250,000 in 2004, reports said. | |
| Speaking to 60 Minutes Sport, to be broadcast in the US on Wednesday, Travis Tygart said the offer was a "clear conflict of interest" and quickly rejected. | Speaking to 60 Minutes Sport, to be broadcast in the US on Wednesday, Travis Tygart said the offer was a "clear conflict of interest" and quickly rejected. |