Armstrong 'to admit doping'

Lance Armstrong is considering whether to publicly confess to his doping past, according to reports in the United States.

The New York Times has claimed that Armstrong is close to admitting to the damning report from the United States Anti-Doping Association (USADA) which resulted in his lifetime ban from cycling. Armstrong was found guilty of widespread doping and was also subsequently stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.

The USADA report concluded that Armstrong and his US Postal Service team had run "the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen". The Texan, who did not co-operate with the USADA investigation, has remained silent since the sanction although he opted not to appeal the decision.

Armstrong also removed mention of his seven Tour wins on his Twitter profile. It is believed he is considering an admission because he wants to resume his athletic career, and has shown an interest in competing in triathlons.

Asked whether the 41-year-old was set to come clean about his drug-taking past Armstrong's lawyer, Tim Herman, told the New York Times: "Lance has to speak for himself on that".

The newspaper claimed that Armstrong had met with USADA chief executive Ty Tygart - who called for the Texan to tell the truth last month - although Herman denied a meeting had taken place.

Speaking to the Guardian, Tygart revealed he has previously asked Armstrong - who has since stepped down from his Livestrong charity to distance them from the controversy - to reveal the truth.

"We gave him an opportunity to come in and be truthful," he said. "That was probably the lowest point for me, because I really thought the change for sport and the legacy of this effort could have been huge, far bigger if he had embraced being a solution rather than an ongoing problem.

"I just know the power of an athlete in that predicament. We had 11 athletes come forward and their stories are what has allowed this to happen and they're very powerful.

"To be the one, with the reach and the appeal he has, could have taken it to a whole new level as far as the good that could come from it is concerned. It would be as big as we've ever seen in terms of promoting the integrity and the values of sport."