WASHINGTON, January 13, 2013 — If anyone can get someone to come clean, it’s Oprah Winfrey. So the fact that disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong has agreed to sit down with her for a one-on-one at his Austin home on Thursday, January 17, signals that a confession may be forthcoming.
While Armstrong has denied doping charges for years, there have been stories floated recently that he would finally admit to having taken performance-enhancing drugs and blood transfusions that gave him his competitive edge in the world of cycling and at the Tour de France.
Recently the charity he funded, Livestrong, which battles cancer, asked him to step down and his sponsors have all dropped him, even as he faces high legal fees and a pending lawsuit. However, he is still estimated to be worth $100 million.
How Candid Will Armstrong Be?
The big problem for the seven time Tour de France champion as he confesses to Oprah Winfrey is it can increase the odds of lawsuits by sponsors and criminal prosecution for perjury after he testified in 2005 that he never indulged in doping of any kind.
Now stripped of all of his titles and banned from cycling for life by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Armstrong’s decision to tell all to Oprah Winfrey comes as a surprise. While he is expected to admit to her about his doping, he may not give all the details that USADA has charged him with.
Armstrong did tell the Associated Press via text message that: “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.”
Risks of A Confession
People close to the cyclist say to expect a limited confession and an apology. Oprah’s show, which now airs on the Oprah Winfrey Network, is a good place to make that kind of admission and apology, having in the past been the scene of emotional and contrite interviews with Oprah, with her often giving her seal of approval for the repentant guest. The Network has said that the “no-holds barred” session will be filmed on Monday and aired on Thursday.
With his reputation on the line, this interview can be one of those “do or die” moments for Armstrong. Many people, including prosecutors and past sponsors, will be hanging on his every word, trying to determine just how remorseful and chastened Armstrong really is.
For times of the Oprah interview with Lance Armstrong check the local listings in your area by going to Welcome to Oprah.
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