Entertainment Tonight sat down with singer Sheryl Crow, and asked her about her ex-fiance, former Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, and his recent doping confession.

“I think that honesty is always the best bet and that the truth will set you free,” said Crow. She claims to only have caught “bits and pieces” of Armstrong’s interview with Oprah Winfrey. “To carry around a weight like that would be devastating in the long run.”

Armstrong, 41, and Crow, 50, began dating in 2003 — the same year that Armstrong divorced his wife of five years, Kristin — and split in 2006.

Last year, a report from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency led to Armstrong’s downfall. The shamed cyclist was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and, until now, vehemently maintained his innocence.

During a series of rapid-fire yes or no questions, the retired cyclist confirmed to Oprah last week that he had blood transfusions and used the banned substance erythropoietin (EPO) during his career — particularly during all seven of his Tour de France victories.

I’m not buying for a second that she didn’t watch his entire interview. She only caught “bits and pieces” of the interview? Girl, please. I feel like she KNEW about his doping from back when they were together, and I also believe she lied to authorities when asked about it.

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Matthew McConaughey considered himself a good pal of Lance Armstrong‘s, living in the same city and working out together for years…so Armstrong’s doping controversy must have been a tough pill to swallow for the Magic Mike actor!

On one hand, McConaughey can understand why Lance didn’t privately fess up to him…but on the other, it still doesn’t excuse the lies. He was shocked when he heard Lance’s confession… and anger eventually turned to sadness.

Said McConaughey:

“What was he supposed to do? Call me to the side and go, ‘Hey man, I did it but don’t tell anybody.’ Then I would have really had a reason to be pissed off at him, going, ‘You want me to walk around holding this?’”

What a hard place to be in as a personal friend of the biker.  We’re upset because of all this…being a friend must be downright devastating!

Photo: FameFlynet

Lance Armstrong has now admitted in front of the whole world that he did, in fact, dope during his career, and lied to cover his tracks. How many of you caught his Oprah interview last night? I didn’t catch it (had a Jr. High science fair to attend), but I’ve got it set to record today. From what I’ve read he DID come clean about using drugs during his career, and shockingly, he doesn’t think what he did was wrong. Is this guy delusional? There are some clips from the interview with Oprah below.

Anyhoo – Sheryl Crow dated Lance from 2003 – 2006, which would be the height of his doping. He won two Tour de France competitions during their relationship, so did Sheryl know what he was up to?

Seems everybody in Lance Armstrong’s world knew the truth about the cyclist — that he was cheating his face off — which begs the question … how much did Sheryl Crow know?

Armstrong dated Crow from 2003 ’til 2006 — when they broke off their engagement. During the relationship, Armstrong rode in the Tour de France twice — and won both times.

During Armstrong’s interview with Oprah, he admitted to using every single PED under the sun and blood doping … and acknowledged that everyone who came after him for cheating was right.

Which brings us to Sheryl … who reportedly was interviewed by the feds in 2011 and allegedly provided info in the doping investigation. The Wall Street Journal reported … two sources claimed she knew a lot about the doping situation. Crow has never spoken publicly about the matter.

We reached out to Crow’s agent, who didn’t have a comment … and we tried to find a publicist for Sheryl, but were unsuccessful.

What do you think – did Sheryl know what he was up to? Do we think Lance tried to hide what he was up to?

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Oprah Winfrey sat down with Lance Armstrong yesterday for an explosive new interview, one that lasted 2 and a half hours, and included Lance admitting to doping for several years.

Oprah hinted at the interview this morning on CBS, saying the “intense and emotional” interview took place yesterday in Austin, TX. She said “He did not come clean in the manner I expected, I was surprised. Myself and the whole team were mesmerized and riveted by some of his answers. I think he answered my questions satisfactorily. He was thoughtful and serious and had prepared himself for this moment and at the end of it we were both pretty exhausted. I had a strategy and I went in prepared to have to dig and pull, but he was very forthcoming with his answers.”

Winfrey went on to say that she would leave it to others to decide if the former champion was contrite during the interview, but that she thought he was well-prepared and serious throughout.

It was also revealed today that Armstrong hinted to the fact the use of drugs within the sport is widespread in a meeting with the head of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency last month.

Armstrong is said to have spoken openly to Travis Tygart about doping, claiming it was rampant in all sports, especially NBA football, and that he was being singled out for punishment.

Sources said that at the end of the meeting, during which Tygart refused to soften Armstrong’s lifetime ban for what the agency called the ‘most sophisticated doping program on the planet’, he told him: ‘You don’t hold the keys to my redemption.

‘There’s one person who holds the keys to my redemption and that’s me,’ the source told the Wall Street Journal.

This week, Armstrong begins a public campaign to restore his shattered image, which started yesterday with his no-holds-barred interview with Oprah Winfrey and his tearful apology to staff at his cancer foundation Livestrong.

This whole thing really infuriates me. Not necessarily all the cheating (all thought that’s bad enough) – but all the denying and lying. He denied and LIED for sooooooooooo many years to cover up what he was doing. And thing of all those hundreds of men who never had a shot at winning the Tour de France because of Lance’s cheating. Men who will never have the opportunity to race again. Men whose prime is over. I think the whole thing is just disgusting.

I’m TOTALLY going to be watching his Oprah interview. I have a feeling he’s going to be contrite – and STILL try and take the heat off himself. I’ll be looking for sincereness. Sincerely sorry, sincerely apologetic to everyone he’s cheated.

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Cyclist Lance Armstrong has agreed to sit down to an interview with Oprah Winfrey, and sources say he might publicly admit to doping.

Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles, after it was revealed by the US Anti-Doping Agency that the cyclist had been doping for years.

Winfrey’s OWN network said the 90-minute interview would address “years of accusations of cheating”.

Armstrong has maintained his innocence as he received a life ban from Usada.

But the New York Times reported on Friday that the 41-year-old was considering a public admission that he used banned performance-enhancing drugs. An admission could lead to an apparent bid to return to competing in marathons and triathlons, the paper reported.

The interview announcement was first made on Oprah Winfrey’s Twitter account on Tuesday, and confirmed when Armstrong retweeted it 15 minutes later.

The interview – his first since being stripped of his wins – will be broadcast on 17 January on Winfrey’s OWN network and live-streamed online.

Armstrong ended his fight against doping charges in August 2012. In October, Usada released a 1,000-page report saying he had been at the heart of “the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme” ever seen in sport.

He was stripped of his titles by the International Cycling Union (UCI) shortly afterwards and given a lifetime ban from the sport.

This is a big deal for Oprah. I haven’t tuned into her channel once since she left her daytime talk show. This interview, I’m DEFINITELY tuning in for. I can’t wait to hear what Lance has to say for himself. I don’t think he’s going to fess up to doping, but I am interested to see what he does admit to.

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Things can’t get much worse for Lance Armstrong these days, but if the accusations of doping are true, then doesn’t he have it coming?

Nike announced this morning that it is cutting all ties with disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong. Their reason? The “insurmountable evidence” that he participated in doping, and misled the company for over a decade.

Nike issued a statement this morning, saying they were terminating Armstrong’s contract “with great sadness”. “Nike does not condone the use of illegal performance enhancing drugs in any manner,” it said.

Shortly before Nike made their announcement, Armstrong revealed he was stepping down as chairman of Livestrong, the cancer-fighting charity he founded. Nike has said they will continue to support Livestrong.

These two drastic moves come a week after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency released an enormous report detailing allegations of widespread doping by Armstrong and his teammates when he won the Tour de France seven years in a row between 1999-2005. The USADA subsequently banned him from cycling for life, and ordered 14 years of his career results erased, including his seven Tour de France wins.

Lance is set to lose at least $50 million over the next five years after losing deals with Nike and other companies. Armstrong is only the second high profile athlete to be terminated by Nike. Nike dropped Michael Vick back in 2007, when he went to prison for 21 months after being found running a dogfighting ring. Nike ultimately re-signed Vick, who now plays for the Philedelphia Eagles.

Together with Nike, the Livestrong Foundation has raised more than $80 million through the sale of yellow Livestrong wristbands since May 2004. The company also produces and sells a line of Livestrong-branded products, including shoes and T-shirts.

Nike is also expected to change the name of the Lance Armstrong Fitness Center building named after Armstrong at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon.

Armstrong’s other sponsors including Anheuser-Busch, sunglasses manufacturer Oakley, energy bar manufacturer Honey Stinger and energy drink FRS continue to stand by the shamed star.

Today’s announcement follows allegations earlier this week that the U.S. sportswear giant had paid $500,000 to the former head of cycling’s world governing body, Hein Verbruggen, to cover up a positive drugs test for Armstrong.

On Tuesday night the company issued a statement saying they ‘vehemently deny’ that they ‘paid former UCI president Verbruggen $500,000 to cover up a positive drug test’.

The statement said: ‘In response to the offensive allegations in today’s New York Daily News, Nike vehemently denies that it paid former UCI president Hein Verbruggen $500,000 to cover up a positive drug test. Nike does not condone the use of illegal performance enhancing drugs.’

Until today Nike had always strongly defended Armstrong. In August Nike said: ‘We are saddened that Lance Armstrong may no longer be able to participate in certain competitions and his titles appear to be impacted. Lance has stated his innocence and has been unwavering on this position.’

Armstrong, who was not paid a salary as chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, will remain on its 15-member board. His duties leading the board will be turned over to vice chairman Jeff Garvey, who was founding chairman in 1997.

‘This organization, its mission and its supporters are incredibly dear to my heart,’ Armstrong said in a statement. ‘Today therefore, to spare the foundation any negative effects as a result of controversy surrounding my cycling career, I will conclude my chairmanship.’

Foundation spokeswoman Katherine McLane said the decision turns over the foundation’s big-picture strategic planning to Garvey. He will also assume some of the public appearances and meetings that Armstrong used to handle.

Armstrong strongly denies doping, but did not fight USADA accusations through arbitration, saying he thinks the process is unfair. Once Armstrong gave up the fight in August and the report came out, crisis management experts predicted the future of the foundation, known mainly by its Livestrong brand name, would be threatened.

They said Armstrong should consider stepping down to keep the charity from getting dragged into a debate over doping.

Part of me really feels bad for Lance, and part of me thinks he’s getting what he deserves. All those other men who competed for the Tour de France, all those years…. all that … cheating. It’s awful.

Do you think the punishment fits the crime?

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Wow!

Lance Armstrong is no longer going to fight against the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency which has charged him with illegal doping.

Armstrong, 40, will be stripped of his seven ground breaking Tour de France titles. He will also have a lifetime ban from the sport against him.

“There comes a point in every man’s life when he has to say, ‘Enough is enough.’ For me, that time is now,” Armstrong wrote in a statement on his website. “I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999. Over the past three years, I have been subjected to a two-year federal criminal investigation followed by [an] unconstitutional witch hunt. The toll this has taken on my family, and my work for our foundation and on me leads me to where I am today – finished with this nonsense. ”

The sports icon retired twice from cycling, first in 2005, and then again in 2011. Although he has never been convicted of any doping charges, the USADA alleges that he took steroids during his legendary career, and claims that former teammates have testified confidentially to that effect.

Says USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart: “This is a heartbreaking example of how the win-at-all costs culture of sport, if left unchecked, will overtake fair, safe and honest competition, but for clean athletes, it is a reassuring reminder that there is hope for future generations to compete on a level playing field without the use of performance-enhancing drugs.”

“Today I turn the page. I will no longer address this issue, regardless of the circumstances,” Armstrong said. “I will commit myself to the work I began before ever winning a single Tour de France title: serving people and families affected by cancer, especially those in underserved communities.”

At 25 years old, Lance was diagnosed with stage 3 testicular cancer in 1996. He beat the odds and survived the fatal desease with surgery and chemo treatments.

Amazingly he continued on to have 5 children. Three of them where with his ex-wife Kristin and two are with his current girlfriend Anna Hansen.

Do you think Lance is guilty of steroid use?

Source, Photo: Fame/Flynet