Bets taken on the words Lance Armstrong will use during TV interview
British bookmaker Ladbrokes is taking bets on the words and phrases that Lance Armstrong may - or may not - use during his 'tell all' television interview with veteran broadcaster Oprah Winfrey on Thursday, January 17.
Speculation is rife that Armstrong will use the show to admit to using banned performance enhancing substances and/or blood doping during his seven Tour de France wins, all of which have been stripped from Armstrong by the United States Anti-Doping Agency after it investigated allegations into doping at the US Postal cycling team. Armstrong is fighting to restore public credibility after USADA's damning report.
Ladbrokes are only offering evens on Armstrong's use of the word 'Confess' and the phrase 'Never tested positive' during his chat at his Texas home with Winfrey. The phrase 'Witch hunt' and the names of Irish journalists David Walsh and Paul Kimmage offer slightly better prospects at 2/1.
The recently knighted 2012 Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins and Sky team principal David Brailsford also make the list, at 4/1 and 8/1 respectively.
"We're sure that he'll apologise but if he actually means it is a whole different issue," said Ladbrokes spokesperson Jessica Bridge.
"A full confession seems unlikely but if he wants to even attempt at rebuilding his public reputation he's got no choice but to fess up."
The words and phrases that may be used by Armstrong, and Ladbrokes' odds:
Sorry 1/4
Apologise 1/4
Confess evens
Conspiracy 1/2
Innocent evens
David Walsh 2/1
Paul Kimmage 2/1
Sunday Times 4/1
British Press/media 4/1
Witch hunt 2/1
Integrity 6/4
Never tested positive Evens
Livestrong 1/4
Team Sky 8/1
Bradley Wiggins 4/1
Sir David Brailsford 8/1
USADA 4/6
WADA 6/4
Tour de France 1/8
Floyd Landis 4/1
Tyler Hamilton 6/4
George Hincapie 4/1
Johan Bruyneel 4/1
Dr. Michele Ferrari 5/6
EPO 6/4
Related links
Lance Armstrong to talk to Oprah Winfrey about doping
Comment: Don't get too excited about an Armstrong confession
Is Lance Armstrong on the verge of doping confession?
Reader comments
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Anthony Turtle
January 09 14:16
I bet the words "I did deal in drugs" will come in to it. With/without the word "not" between "did" and "deal".
Ian Burnett
January 09 14:59
The sooner the media stop running stories about this cheat the better. The sport moved on some years ago, and doesn't need news coverage of him to be overshadowing the clean riders that make up the modern peleton. His dirty story is history, consign him to where he belongs, out with the rest of the rubbish.
Tony O'Donnell
January 09 16:57
No odds being offered on him using the word "cancer"?
Tom McLaren
January 09 17:20
They missed an obvious one - "cancer"!
Ken Evans
January 09 18:07
What about "my mate Hein", "bribe", "cover-up", "McQuaid", "UCI", and "Tour of Switzerland" ?
GreenDream
January 09 19:00
The sad thing about the cycling press, is that they make money on the Armstrong story whether they're praising or panning him. Move on, do some real reporting. Let's se some more page space devoted to women's cycling
William Hirst
January 09 19:05
How about 'I' with 'am' and 'a' with 'big' and finally 'jerk'. Then he can apologise for letting everyone down.
Dan O'Connor
January 09 22:56
"The sport moved on years ago...." Please.