Armstrong vows to testify with ‘100% transparency’

PanARMENIAN.Net - Disgraced former cyclist Lance Armstrong said he will testify with "100% transparency and honesty" at any future inquiry into doping, according to BBC Sport.

But the American, 42, wants assurances he will be treated fairly after admitting in January he took performance-enhancing drugs during all seven of his Tour de France wins.

He argues some of those involved in cycling's culture of doping have been given "a total free pass", while others have received "the death penalty".

Accused by the United States Anti-Doping Agency of conducting "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program sport has ever seen", Armstrong was stripped of his Tour de France titles in August 2012.

The Texan, who overcame cancer before the first of his seven successive Tour "wins" in 1999, also handed back the bronze medal he won in the road time trial at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

In a 20-minute interview with the BBC's World Service, Armstrong said his life had "been tough" following his high-profile television confession to American chat show host Oprah Winfrey at the start of the year.

He also spoke of the mounting threat to his vast fortune, reported to be about $125mln at its peak, as people seek redress for the lies he told.

"It's been tough," he said. "It's been real tough. I've paid a high price in terms of my standing within the sport, my reputation, certainly financially because the lawsuits have continued to pile up. I have experienced massive personal loss, massive loss of wealth while others have truly capitalized on this story."

Armstrong said what he wanted now was consistency from those attempting to find out the true extent of the doping.

"If everyone gets the death penalty, then I'll take the death penalty," he said. "If everyone gets a free pass, I'm happy to take a free pass. If everyone gets six months, then I'll take my six months."

Brian Cookson, the new president of the UCI - cycling's world governing body, said there will be an independent commission to try to unearth how much cheating there had been.

The Englishman is keen the commission hears evidence from a large number of people, not just Armstrong, as he attempts to restore cycling's credibility and that of his own organization, which has faced allegations of corruption.

Armstrong said he would do whatever he could to "close the chapter and move things forward", conceding he did not have "a whole lot of credibility" but also insisting he had "nothing to lose".

He has previously questioned the role of the UCI, claiming "there were things that were a little shady" at the time.

However, he told the BBC any revelations might not be "quite as juicy" as people think.