LOS ANGELES: Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong will discuss the doping scandal that dramatically brought down his stellar career during an interview with Oprah Winfrey next week.
The famed talk show host said a 90-minute special episode would address “years of accusations of cheating, and charges of lying about the use of performance-enhancing drugs” throughout Armstrong’s “storied cycling career.” The interview will be Armstrong’s first since being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles last year and will air on the Oprah Winfrey Network. It will also be streamed live on her website, a publicity statement said.
Last week The New York Times reported that Armstrong, 41, was considering publicly admitting that he used banned performance-enhancing drugs, in an apparent bid to return to competitive sport in marathons and triathlons.
“Looking forward to this conversation with @lancearmstrong,” Winfrey posted on her Twitter site Tuesday. Armstrong re-tweeted the comment 15 minutes later.
In the interview, to be shown in a primetime slot next Thursday, Jan. 17, Winfrey will speak with Armstrong at his home in Austin, Texas.
Before the ban, Armstrong was competing in triathlons, and his Twitter feed is full of posts about his continued biking, swimming and runs.
His tweets also make clear he is following the media storm surrounding his fall from grace — and that he has not always been pleased with how the case has been portrayed.
“It took a ‘photographer’ to ‘write’ the most balanced piece we’ve seen yet,” Armstrong wrote on January 2, linking to an essay by cycling photographer Graham Watson.
Watson wrote, in part, “Outright angels do not win a Tour de France.” “Lance did what he had to do to win, and he clearly did it very well. If he cheated, he cheated the other cheats of that era, even if by doing so he also cheated an adoring public.” Armstrong has vehemently denied doping and it is not known if he will admit to doping on Winfrey’s show.
The show used words like “no-holds-barred interview” but also “alleged doping scandal,” “accusations of cheating” and “charges of lying” in its publicity statement.
The announcement came on the same day that “60 Minutes” said US Anti-Doping Agency chief executive Travis Tygart told them in an interview to be aired Wednesday that Armstrong attempted to donate around $250,000 to the agency.
Tygart said he was bowled over by the “totally inappropriate” donation offer from one of Armstrong’s representatives in 2004, which he immediately refused.
“I was stunned,” Tygart said in the interview. “It was a clear conflict of interest for USADA. We had no hesitation in rejecting that offer.” Tygart declined to comment Tuesday on Armstrong’s decision to go on Winfrey’s show.
Tygart, who described Armstrong’s heavy-handed tactics as being similar to the “Mafia,” denounced a $100,000 donation Armstrong made previously to the International Cycling Union (UCI).
But Armstrong’s lawyer, Tim Herman, told USA Today on Tuesday that there was never a donation attempt from the cyclist.
USADA stripped Armstrong of his Tour de France titles and slapped him with a lifetime ban in October, after releasing a damning report that said he helped orchestrate the most sophisticated doping program in the history of the sport.
The UCI effectively erased Armstrong from the cycling history books when it decided not to appeal sanctions imposed on Armstrong by USADA.
The massive report by USADA included hundreds of pages of eyewitness testimony, e-mails, financial records and laboratory analysis of blood samples.
“We have an obligation to clean athletes and the future of the sport. This was a fight for the soul of the sport,” Tygart said.
US federal officials investigated Armstrong and his cycling team for two years but failed to charge him.
The decision not to charge Armstrong stunned Tygart. He was also upset when the US Justice Department refused to share the results of their probe with him.
Asked why he thought the Justice Department refused to bring charges, Tygart said: “It’s a good question, and one that if you finally answer, let me know.” Late last year, cancer survivor Armstrong resigned as chairman of the Livestrong foundation he created.
Armstrong to address doping scandal on Oprah
Armstrong to address doping scandal on Oprah
Al-Ahli thrash Al-Ettifaq to keep pressure on Al-Hilal at the top
- Ivan Toney bags hat-trick and an assist en route to 4-0 victory for Al-Ahli
- The Greens move into 2nd place on 43 points, cutting the gap to Al-Hilal to two points, with the leaders holding a game in hand
RIYADH: Al-Ahli could not have asked for a better tune-up ahead of their second meeting with Al-Hilal this season on Monday. With the league leaders travelling to Khobar to face an in-form Al-Qadsiah on Thursday, victory over Al-Ettifaq offered Al-Ahli the chance to capitalise on any dropped points.
Matthias Jaissle’s side produced an excellent display in front of the home crowd, opening matchday 19 with a commanding 4-0 win.
Early on, it appeared Al-Ahli may already have had one eye on the looming clash with Al-Hilal. Al-Ettifaq began with determination, winning second balls effectively and dictating the tempo. However, Al-Ahli’s unique 3-4-2-1 set-up for this encounter proved fruitful.
The hosts lined up with Franck Kessié partnering Roger Ibanez and Rayan Hamed across the back, while Wenderson Galeno and Mohammed Abdulrahman operated as wide midfielders. Enzo Millot and Riyad Mahrez occupied the spaces behind Ivan Toney, pulling defenders out of Al-Ettifaq’s defence to create space in behind.
That approach underpinned both first-half goals. In the 17th minute, a long ball launched by Édouard Mendy released Mahrez into the channel, as the Algerian squared for Toney to slot home the opener.
Ten minutes later, Millot dragged Abdullah Al-Khateeb out of defence to play Galeno in behind, who was ultimately brought down by Al-Khateeb, prompting the referee to award a penalty.
Toney finished confidently from the spot to move temporarily clear at the top of the charts, netting his 17th goal of the season — one more than Cristiano Ronaldo and Julián Quiñones.
Al-Ahli pushed on after the break, eager to put the game beyond doubt and manage minutes ahead of Monday.
Valentin Atangana missed a golden opportunity in the 56th minute when a cutback slipped away from him in front of an open goal, but he made amends eight mintes leater. A super diagonal pass from Mahrez found Toney on the edge of the box, who played it into the Frenchman for the third.
Moments later, Toney passed up the chance to complete his hat-trick when Marek Rodák denied him at close range in the 66th minute.
The Englishman would not be denied for long, as in the 84th minute, the referee pointed to the spot once more after Abdulrahman was fouled by Francisco Calvo. Toney converted his second penalty of the night and his 18th goal of the campaign.
Al-Ahli head into Monday’s showdown against Al-Hilal in high spirits, having won their last eight games. Should Al-Hilal defeat Al-Qadsiah on Thursday, the gap will revert to four points. Any slip-up, however, would leave Al-Ahli within touching distance of top spot.
Elsewhere, Al-Najma and Al-Riyadh played out a 1-1 draw in Qassim as the hosts’ winless run continued. Meanwhile, Al-Fayha defeated Al-Khaleej 3-1 to move eight points clear of the relegation zone, with Fashion Sakala and Chris Smalling getting on the scoresheet.
Action resumes on Thursday, with Al-Ittihad travelling to the Eastern Province to face Al-Fateh at 6:00pm. Two more fixtures follow at 8:30pm, as Al-Hazem host Al-Shabab in Qassim and Al-Qadsiah welcome Al-Hilal in a clash that could further tighten the title race.
