Armstrong: 'I would probably cheat again'

In an interview with the BBC on Monday, the fallen cycling star said that in the sport's current era he would not have needed to resort to doping, adding that what happened in the 90s should be seen in the context of the time.

"If I was racing in 2015, no, I wouldn't do it again because I don't think you have to," Armstrong said.

"If you take me back to 1995, when doping was completely pervasive, I would probably do it again."

Fallen hero

Following his return from cancer in the mid-1990s, Armstrong was regularly subjected to claims of doping, which he stoutly refuted until the release of the "reasoned decision" by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

In 2012, the USADA accused the cancer survivor of engineering one of the most sophisticated doping schemes in sports.

It was not until January 2013, however, that Armstrong eventually made a public confession in an interview with US chat show host Oprah Winfrey.

Plans to compete

Speaking on Monday in his first television interview since then, the Texan said he regretted the "unacceptable and inexcusable" behavior with which he subjected other riders and figures within the sport during numerous attempts to dismiss their allegations of doping.

"I would want to change the man that did those things, maybe not the decision, but the way he acted," he continued.

Asked if people were ready for his return to public life, Armstong, who is still lobbying to have his ban decreased so he can compete in sports like the triathlon, said: "Selfishly, I would say yeah, we're getting close to that time."

ksb/bw (Reuters, AFP)