Lance Armstrong’s Celebrity Confessor: Oprah
Next week, Oprah Winfrey hosts Lance Armstong for a talk many expect will turn confession. Winfrey photo flickr.com/vtkproductions; Armstrong photo Wikipedia user Haggisnl, bit.ly/WyMQEyFrom his home in Austin, Lance Armstrong will speak with Oprah Winfrey for his first interview since having his seven Tour de France titles vacated.
It was a rough 2012 for Armstrong: He saw his wins vacated once he stopped fighting doping charges from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency last summer. USADA then issued a scathing report detailing alleged doping throughout Armstrong’s career. The fallout lead to Armstrong’s formal separation from the cancer organization he founded, Livestrong.
Armstrong has vehemently denied the allegations against him until recently, when a New York Times article stated Armstrong was “weigh[ing] admitting drug use.”
If Armstrong comes clean, USADA could reduce his lifetime ban on sanctioned competition, which would allow him to return to triathlon competition. USADA regulations state that with an athlete’s full cooperation, a suspension may be reduced up to three-quarters. Armstrong’s full admission and cooperation might put some shine back on the athlete’s tarnished halo – and who better than Winfrey to serve as celebrity confessor.
Armstrong’s appearance with Winfrey is scheduled Thursday, Jan. 17, 8 p.m CST, on Winfrey’s OWN cable channel and streaming live onOprah.com.
