Lance's confession doomed to fail

Lance Armstrong's confession to Oprah Winfrey will fail to save his career, says World Anti-Doping Agency director David Howman. Picture: Patrick Kovarik. Source: AFP

LANCE Armstrong's plan to use "celebrity confession" to save his sports career - and to avoid paying out an estimated $100 million in damages - will fail.

World Anti-Doping Agency director David Howman made the claim as Armstrong's vow to expose corrupt cycling officials threatens to end the careers of some of Australia's greatest athletes.

Influential International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound says cycling could be expelled from the 2016 Rio de Janiero Olympic Games if Armstrong's conspiracy claims are proven.

If cycling is thrown off the Olympic roster, riders including Anna Meares, Simon Gerrans and Jack Bobridge would become innocent victims of sport's worst doping scandal.

Pound, an ardent anti-doping crusader, said cycling could be be exiled indefinitely from the Games if Armstrong provides evidence of high-level corruption within the International Cycling Union.

"We could say, 'Look, you've clearly got a problem why don't we give you four years, eight years to sort it out'," Pound said.

"And when you think you're ready come on back we'll see whether it would be a good idea to put you back on the program.

"The only way it (cycling) is going to clean up is if all these people say `Hey, we're no longer in the Olympics and that's where we want to be so let's earn our way back into it'."

Howman remains unmoved by Armstrong's limited admissions to US television talk show host Oprah Winfrey.

Armstrong's confession is reputedly motivated by a desire to return to triathlon competition and to avoid losing up to $100million in a US Federal "whistleblower" case.

Banned for life after he chose not contest a raft of charges laid by the US Anti-Doping Agency, Armstrong has indicated he is prepared to turn informant in return for a lighter sentence.

But Howman says anything less than a full confession - complete with a doping "road map" giving specific details - is not good enough.

Howman said Armstrong's interview with Winfrey is "hardly the same as giving evidence to a relevant authority".

"He's got to follow a certain course," Howman said.

"That is not talking to a talk show host."

Already stripped off seven Tour de France titles and banned for life from all Olympic sports, Armstrong could have his ban reduced to eight years - or less - with a full admission.

"Is he trying to do something for himself to have the sanctions changed?" Howman said.

"Does he want to do something for the benefit of the sport itself? In both instances, he will need to make a full statement on oath."

Howman said a reduced ban is possible depending on the level of cooperation.

If Armstrong comes clean, he runs the risk of perjury because of his previous sworn denial that he had used performance-enhancing products.

International Olympic Committee vice president Thomas Bach said Armstrong should provide a complete confession to USADA or WADA.

"The TV interview is not the right platform," Bach said.

The International Cycling Union urged Armstrong to testify before its independent commission on doping to shed light on allegations that UCI officials helped cover up his use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Hein Verbruggen, who was president of the UCI during Armstrongs 1999-2005 Tour de France domination, attempted to distance himself rfrom the scandal.

"I havent seen the interview. Its all guessing," he said.

Armstrong has been in talks with USADA about a possible confession to authorities and a path to restoring his eligibility.

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