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US cyclist Lance Armstrong apologises to Livestrong staff | US cyclist Lance Armstrong apologises to Livestrong staff |
(35 minutes later) | |
Lance Armstrong has apologised to the staff at his Livestrong Foundation, amid reports that the US cyclist may admit doping in a TV interview. | Lance Armstrong has apologised to the staff at his Livestrong Foundation, amid reports that the US cyclist may admit doping in a TV interview. |
Armstrong made the apology during private conversations in Austin, Texas, a foundation spokeswoman said. | Armstrong made the apology during private conversations in Austin, Texas, a foundation spokeswoman said. |
His interview with Oprah Winfrey is due to be aired on Thursday. | His interview with Oprah Winfrey is due to be aired on Thursday. |
Armstrong, 41, was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles by the sport's governing body last year. He has maintained his innocence. | |
"He had a private conversation with the staff, who have done the important work of the foundation for many years," Livestrong Foundation spokeswoman Katherine McLane was quoted as saying by Reuters. | |
Armstrong, who also received a lifetime ban from governing body the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada), was reportedly close to tears. | |
The TV interview - his first since being stripped of his wins - is expected to be recorded later on Monday and broadcast on Winfrey's OWN network and streamed online. | |
A spokeswoman for the Oprah show said Armstrong was not being paid to appear and that Winfrey was free to ask him any question she wanted. | |
'Confession obstacles' | |
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 also later resigned as chairman of the Livestrong Foundation, the cancer charity he created. | |
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. | |
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 has 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. |