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Armstrong says if he had to go back to the start of his career he would still dope. Associated Press
the interview

One of the most hated men in sports is back on our screens this week... not much has changed

Lance is still Lance.

OPRAH WAS MEANT to be the turning point. Lance Armstrong would sit down with America’s most beloved talk show host and as long as he apologised, showed contrition and didn’t do a Tom Cruise we would forgive him, right?

Well it has been two years since Armstrong finally admitted to the world that he cheated his way to seven straight Tour de France titles but people don’t seem ready to forgive and forget just yet.

And judging by these snippets from a BBC interview that will air on Thursday night, Armstrong is still trying to justify his actions. If Armstrong was a movie villain we would probably love him – like a cycling version of Whiplash – but this is real life and his antics since his admission haven’t won him many friends.

“If I was racing in 2015, no, I wouldn’t do it again because I don’t think you have to,” Armstrong said to the BBC.

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

He also said he wants to be able to return to public life and resume his charity work.

“Listen, of course I want to be out of timeout, what kid doesn’t?” he said.

What makes Armstrong fascinating is his refusal to do a complete reversal from the man he was during those Tour de France years.

He claims he wish he could change how he acted towards people like Emma O’Reilly but you can still see that edge whenever he is quoted or interviewed on television.

The funny thing is, even if Armstrong thinks he would dope again, why on earth would he say it in an interview?

And yet, he still wonders why society hasn’t forgiven him.

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