Armstrong to explain all

Lance Armstrong will break his silence over allegations of drug doping after it was announced he is to be interviewed by Oprah Winfrey next week.

The American was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles by the sport's governing body the International Cycling Union (UCI), following a report by the US Anti-Doping Agency which concluded the 41-year-old and his US Postal Service team had run "the most sophisticated, professionalism and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen".

It will be Armstrong's first formal interview since he was banned for life by the UCI with the Oprah Winfrey Network claiming in a statement that "Armstrong 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 interview will take place at 9pm ET on Thursday, January 17 (0200amGMT on Friday, January 18) and is scheduled to last for 90 minutes.

The New York Times claimed at the weekend that Armstrong was close to admitting to the damning report from USADA.

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, who has shown an interest in competing in triathlons, also removed mention of his seven Tour wins on his Twitter profile.

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."