NBC SPORTS [13/01/2013]
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In the last twenty years, if you happened to do something wrong in
the public eye and needed a soapbox to explain yourself, you went on
the Oprah Winfrey show.
Since Oprah now has her own network, cyclist Lance Armstrong has
decided to admit to doping during his run of seven Tour De France titles
from 1999-2005 by giving an exclusive interview to Miss Winfrey.
Armstrong will sit down with Oprah at his home in Austin, Texas on
Monday and will admit to doping but will not be specific with answers
due to possible legal ramifications:
In the interview, which is scheduled to air Thursday on the Oprah Winfrey Network, the famed cyclist plans to admit to doping throughout his career but probably will not get into great detail about specific cases and events.
Armstrong’s planned admission carries with it the risk of being sued or held liable by those who believe he defrauded them by lying about his performance and use of drugs. He also could face criminal prosecution, though that seems unlikely. For example, Armstrong testified under oath in 2005 that he never used such drugs, but he is not likely to face criminal charges for perjury because the testimony is beyond the statute of limitations.
For those of you wondering if Lance is doing the interview to get
back into cycling, it appears that it could be a reason but it won’t
help him get back into competitive cycling until 2021:
Having been banned for life and stripped of his seven titles in the Tour de France, Armstrong would have to provide substantial assistance to doping officials before he could have his eligibility reinstated. If he provided new information about cheating in the sport, he could have his ban reduced to no less than eight years, according to the World Anti-Doping Agency code. It’s also possible that WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) and USADA (U.S. Anti Doping Agency) could reach an agreement to reduce the ban further, depending on his information and cooperation.
When asked about the interview by members of the Associated Press,
Lance provided a short response after being seen running near his home:
He would not divulge what he will tell Winfrey in Monday’s interview that is scheduled to air Thursday. He said from the side of the road: “I’m calm, I’m at ease and ready to speak candidly. I hope we’ll talk for a couple of hours.”
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