What will Armstrong reveal?

Lance Armstrong will have something to gain but plenty to lose when he is interviewed by chat show host Oprah Winfrey.
The 41-year-old cyclist was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles by the sport’s governing body after a damning report by the US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) labelled him a serial cheat.
He will hope the 90-minute interview, to be broadcast next Thursday, gives him a chance to put his side of the story.
However, he has repeatedly denied using performance-enhancing drugs in the past and any admission now throws open the possibility of legal action.
Here, we look at some of the potential pitfalls, and possible benefits.
How candid will he be?
Programme makers insist they will be able to ask him any question, although lawyers believe some kind of agreement will be in place.
Nicole Nichols, from Oprah’s OWN cable TV network, said: “There will be no payment of any kind for the interview. No editorial control and no question is off limits.”
Sports lawyer Simon Boyes, who lectures at the Nottingham Law School in Britain, questioned whether it would be a “no-holds barred” interview.
“I can’t imagine Lance Armstrong would take the risk of going into the interview blind, with the potential to say something that could put him in a difficult position,” Boyes said.
“I would be extremely surprised if there wasn’t an agreement beforehand about the kind of questions that will be asked.”
What are the legal pitfalls?
Armstrong is already facing legal action on several fronts and any admission could prove costly.
“Once he admits he doped, he loses any defence for the cases brought against him. That would have huge repercussions legally although just admitting that wouldn’t be nearly enough,” David Walsh, chief sports writer of the Sunday Times, said.
“He has to address the fact he set out to destroy the characters of those who accused him. If he doesn’t make those apologies, how much sympathy should he get?”
Walsh’s newspaper is suing to recover up to £1 million after it made a payout to Armstrong to settle a libel claim.
The US justice department is also considering whether to join a federal whistle-blower lawsuit filed by former Armstrong team-mate Floyd Landis alleging fraud against the US Postal Service during the years the agency sponsored Armstrong’s teams.
Boyes said sponsors could seek compensation, arguing that their brands have been tainted.
Could Armstrong face a perjury charge?
Armstrong has testified under oath that he never used performance-enhancing drugs, which could theoretically lead to char­ges if he confessed.
Former US track star Marion Jones was given a six-month prison sentence for lying to investigators about her drug use.
However, the passage of time may well help Armstrong, who swore on oath in 2005 that he had never doped.
“Perjury is a statement under oath that is false and carries a potential prison sentence of up to five years,” New York attorney Stuart Slotnick said. – BBC