Lance Armstrong Oprah Winfrey Interview Details

AN @AP source says Lance Armstrong confessed to Oprah Winfrey during an interview Monday January 14, 2013 that he used performance-enhancing drugs to win the Tour de France.  Orah said; "We were mesmerized and riveted by some of his answers," she said, adding that "he did not come clean in the manner that I expected." She didn't elaborate.

A group of about 10 close friends and advisers to Armstrong left a downtown Austin hotel about three hours after they arrived Monday afternoon for the taping. Among them were Armstrong attorneys Tim Herman and Sean Breen, along with Bill Stapleton, Armstrong's longtime agent, manager and business partner. All declined comment entering and exiting the session.

Soon afterward, @Oprah Winfrey tweeted: "Just wrapped with @lancearmstrong More than 2½ hours. He came READY!"

The interview is to be broadcast Thursday on Winfrey's network.

Lance Armstrong was stripped of his seven  Tour de France victories from 1999 to 2005,which was a record by any cyclist, last year in the wake of a voluminous U.S. Anti-Doping Agency report that portrayed him as a ruthless competitor, willing to go to any lengths to win the prestigious race. USADA chief executive Travis Tygart labeled the doping regimen allegedly carried out by the U.S. Postal Service team that Armstrong once led, "The most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen."

It is a fact that Armstrong has NEVER failed any of his 500 drug test and for more than a decade, Armstrong has denied he used performance-enhancing drugs but after a federal investigation of the cyclist was dropped without charges being brought last year, USADA stepped in with an investigation of its own. The agency deposed 11 former teammates and accused Armstrong of masterminding a complex and brazen drug program that included steroids, blood boosters and a range of other performance-enhancers.

Before sitting down with Oprah, Lance visited the staff at  his Livestrong cancer foundation. Armstrong addressed the staff Monday and said, "I'm sorry." as the disgraced cyclist choked up and several employees cried during the session.

Armstrong apologized for letting the staff down and putting Livestrong at risk but he did not make a direct confession to the group about using banned drugs. He said he would try to restore the foundation's reputation, and urged the group to continue fighting for the charity's mission of helping cancer patients and their families.

His story of  fighting back from testicular cancer to reaching the heights of winning not one but an UNREPRESENTED seven Tour de Frances was a story straight out of a Hollywood script. What was once an inspiration to so many has, as has been all too frequently, turned ugly and disgraceful as we yet again watch one of what we thought was a TRUE HERO and INSPIRATION turn out to be just another lier and cheater.

Got me!!! I too was caught up in the pride of what this America in Paris did together with the admiration of what he had to overcome. He fooled me as well as millions around the USA and the world. More importantly he cheated, not just us all and his competitors, but himself out of true victory, self sacrifice and fair competition over dishonesty, chemicals and the ultimate selfishness to WIN at ANY COST no matter what you have to do!

Does he deserve forgiveness?  A second chance? Redemption?

Of course I ask you this, How many others do the same thing and never get in suspicion getting away with what Lance almost did!!!