Lance Armstrong 'confesses doping to Oprah Winfrey'

Lance Armstrong is believed to have admitted he used performance-enhancing drugs during his interview with Oprah Winfrey

Lance Armstrong spent the wake of his cycling success, (which included winning seven Tour de France titles) denying all allegations that he’d used performance-enhancing drugs. But now, according to the Associated Press, the cyclist has admitted the claims are true during a two and a half hour interview with US TV host Oprah Winfrey.

The reported confession comes after Lance Armstrong was stripped of his titles following a report from the US Anti-Doping Agency that suggested he would go to any lengths to win the biggest race in cycling.

LANCE ARMSTRONG STRIPPED OF CYCLING TITLES AND BANNED FOR LIFE

On Monday evening, Oprah visited Lance at his home in Austin, Texas, where it’s thought he admitted the claims. In a text to the AP, the cyclist said: 'I told her (Winfrey) to go wherever she wants and I'll answer the questions directly, honestly and candidly. That's all I can say.'

While Oprah hasn't commented on what was said in the interview, she did use Twitter, following her visit to him, to say: 'He came READY!'

Before he spoke to Oprah it’s believed Lance visited staff at the Livestrong Foundation – the charity he helped set up to support cancer patients and their families. A source told AP that Lance apologised to staff, some of whom then cried.

While he said sorry for letting staff down, and for putting Livestrong at risk, he did not directly address the claims against him. At the end of last year, Lance was forced to resign from the board of directors at the charity but this week spoke about how he would try to restore the charity’s reputation and continue its work.

The interview will air in the US on Thursday.

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