Lance Armstrong apologises on Oprah for doping

Associated Press reports that disgraced cyclist 'choked up' and apologised to staff of cancer foundation before going on Oprah
Lance Armstrong apologized to the staff of his Livestrong cancer foundation on Monday before sitting down for a confessional interview with Oprah Winfrey, according to the Associated Press.The disgraced cyclist, who was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles amid overwhelming evidence that he was guilty of doping, addressed an emotional meeting of Livestrong staff on Monday and said "I'm sorry", an unnamed source told AP.

Apologizing for disappointing them and putting the foundation at risk, Armstrong reportedly "choked up" during the meeting, and several other employees were in tears, too.Armstrong told staffers he would try to restore Livestrong's reputation, and encouraged them to continue supporting the charity's mission to help cancer patients and their families.Armstrong, a cancer survivor, founded Livestrong in 1997. He stepped down as a board member in November 2012 following the release of a damning report by the US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) that accused him of doping.The report alleged that Armstrong had masterminded the "most sophisticated, professional and successful doping program that sport has ever seen."After years making of denying any involvement in doping, and aggressively pursuing those who accused him of doing so, Armstrong is expected to admit to using performance-enchancing drugs in the interview with Winfrey.

Although the interview is his first since the Usada report, it is not expected that he will discuss the findings, or the charges against him, in detail.Armstrong texted the AP on Saturday and said: "I told her [Winfrey] to go wherever she wants, and that I'll answer the questions directly, honestly and candidly. That's all I can say."Winfrey's network OWN said Armstrong agreed to a "no-holds-barred" interview. "Amstrong will address the alleged doping scandal, years of accusations of cheating and charges of lying about the use of performance-enhancing drugs throughout his storied cycling career," the network said in a statement.The interview is set to air Thursday at 9pm eastern time in the US on the Oprah Winfrey Network and will be streamed live internationally on Oprah.com.Armstrong has continued to maintain his innocence, but is facing several legal challenges, and has lost millions of dollars in sponsorship deals and endorsements. The Sunday Times in London is suing him for recovery of damages from a libel settlement he made with the newspaper after they accused him of doping.Usada's sanctions against Armstrong were ratified by the International Cycling Union (UCI), and he was later stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned from competitive cycling for life.