LOS ANGELES: Lance Armstrong lied in his confessional interview with Oprah Winfrey and the shamed cyclist has two weeks to finally come clean, the US anti-doping official who pursued him for years has said.
Travis Tygart said in an excerpt of an interview with the CBS network that Armstrong failed to tell Winfrey the truth about several key points over doping — including a claim that he raced drug-free in his comeback in 2009 and 2010.
Tygart, the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) chief, said he has written to Armstrong to say that if he wants to lessen his lifetime sporting ban he must “cooperate fully and truthfully” by February 6, about drug-taking in the sport.
It is not clear if cooperation from Armstrong, who was stripped of all seven of his Tour De France wins last year, could take the form of testimony before a truth and reconciliation commission.
The International Cycling Union (UCI), which is under pressure from the World Anti-Doping Agency and USADA, on Friday agreed that such a platform would benefit the drug-damaged sport after a series of devastating doping cases.
Armstrong, a cancer survivor who during the Oprah interview admitted doping for the first time after years of vehement denials, said he would be willing to testify before such a commission if he were invited.
He also said that his record seven wins in the tour — between 1999-2005 — were fueled by performance enhancing drugs but insisted he was clean when he came out of retirement and raced in the Tour de France in 2009 and 2010.
Tygart, however, in the CBS interview, which will air in full on “60 Minutes” on Sunday, said the latter claim is “just contrary to the evidence.”
According to Tygart, expert reports based on the variation of Armstrong’s blood values in 2009 and 2010 make it a “one to a million chance that it was due to something other than doping.”
The USADA chief reiterated the assertions in the report issued last year by the agency on which it based its lifetime ban of Armstrong and the forfeiture of all of his cycling results from August 1998.
The report led to Armstrong’s demise after more than a decade of denials that he was a drug cheat during which he pursued a series of vitriolic attacks against several individuals who had accused him of doping.
Tygart told CBS that Armstrong may have lied about doping after his comeback because under the statute of limitations for criminal fraud, he would still be open to prosecution.
He also took issue with Armstrong’s claim that the disgraced Texan’s favored drug cocktail of blood-boosting EPO, blood transfusions and testosterone included just a small amount of EPO.
“He used a lot of EPO,” Tygart told “60 Minutes,” alleging that Armstrong was less than truthful when he told Winfrey that he had not pushed his teammates toward doping.
“He was the boss,” Tygart said in the excerpt.
“The evidence is clear he was one of the ringleaders of this conspiracy that pulled off this grand heist that... using tens of millions of taxpayer dollars defrauded millions of sports fans and his fellow competitors.” In the second segment of his interview with Winfrey, which aired over two nights on Jan.18-19, the 41-year-old Armstrong said he wants to compete again in sport — perhaps marathons.
Immediately after Armstrong’s first confession aired last week Tygart responded by saying that the former cyclist must testify under oath to have any hope of reducing his sanction.
“His admission that he doped throughout his career is a small step in the right direction,” Tygart said.
“But if he is sincere in his desire to correct his past mistakes, he will testify under oath about the full extent of his doping activities.”
Armstrong lied to Oprah, says doping chief
Armstrong lied to Oprah, says doping chief
Smylie, Uihlein tied for lead entering first fourth round in LIV Golf history
- Smash GC’s Talor Gooch is third just 1 shot behind, the closest pursuer of 17 players within 6 shots of co-leaders
RIYADH: LIV Golf enters uncharted territory on Saturday at Roshn Group LIV Golf Riyadh.
The league’s first 72-hole regular-season tournament, part of the significant format adjustments made for the 2026 season, concludes with Saturday’s fourth round at Riyadh.
New LIV Golf player Elvis Smylie of Ripper GC and original league member Peter Uihlein of RangeGoats GC are tied for the lead at 16 under. Smash GC’s Talor Gooch is just a shot back, the closest pursuer of 17 players who are within six shots of the co-leaders.
In the team competition, Torque GC — fueled by the twin 7-under 65s by Mexican Olympic teammates Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz — are at 46 under, two shots ahead of Smash, who are seeking to deliver a victory to Gooch on his debut as captain. Ripper, eyeing next week’s home tournament at LIV Golf Adelaide, are another shot back.
Had the tournament been played under the old 54-hole format, Uihlein and Smylie would have had to settle things in a playoff on Friday. But now the leaders and contenders get 18 more holes to crown a champion.
“Yes, thanks for bringing that up,” laughed Uihlein, who has appeared in all 51 LIV Golf tournaments and is seeking his first league individual title.
“I feel like 72 holes fits me a little better. If you would have told me at the beginning of the week, hey, you’d be tied for the lead after 54 and you have a chance to win, that’s where you’d want to be. I’d take it. (I’m) looking forward to the challenge tomorrow.”
Smylie, 23, who is making his first LIV Golf start after joining the all-Australian Rippers last month, had never competed in the 54-hole format but is looking to send a message to his new competitors. He said he was in “total control” of his shots during Friday’s bogey-free 7-under 65.
“Without a doubt I want to prove my worth in this league, and I want to establish myself as one of the best guys in this league,” the left-hander said. “The best way to do that is by going out and making a statement this week.”
Ancer is among the group of players now getting a fourth round to chase a LIV Golf trophy instead of having to be satisfied with a high finish. The new Torque player won his first LIV Golf individual title two years ago in the 54-hole format while playing for Fireballs GC. He welcomes the opportunity to have an extra 18 holes to claim a second title.
“I feel like 54 holes was good enough to figure out who’s playing the best golf,” said Ancer, whose 65 was highlighted by a 50-foot-plus eagle putt.
“You just feel like it’s a little bit more of a sprint, have a little bit less time for you to make mistakes and come back from them. But then playing 72 holes, you feel like if you’re a steady player, that would maybe help you rise to the top of the leaderboard.”
Two of the steadiest LIV Golf players are Gooch and Legion XIII captain Jon Rahm, who have combined to win the last three season-long Individual Championships. They have each celebrated 13 trophies — individual and team successes — and are tied for the most in league history, remaining in contention for more hardware thanks to the additional fourth round.
Gooch, who follows the rule of 67 — everything takes care of itself by shooting 67 or better — shot his third consecutive 67 as he seeks a fifth individual tournament title.
Rahm shot his second 67 of the week and is tied for fourth with Ancer, Smash GC’s Jason Kokrak and 4Aces GC’s Thomas Detry, who, like Smylie, is making his league debut in Riyadh.
Despite increased winds and rainy weather on Friday, with players expecting the tougher conditions to impact scoring, the field shot its lowest average of the week, nearly 3.5 strokes under par during a lively third-round Moving Day.
Uihlein, who opened his round with four consecutive birdies en route to a 66, said: “It didn’t feel like it was easier than yesterday, but everyone went low.
“I’m expecting it to be a shootout, but we could come out here tomorrow and it’s blowing 15, 20 again, so you never know.”
