After years of vehement denials, champion cyclist Lance Armstrong reportedly told Oprah Winfrey in an interview in his hometown of Austin, Texas last night that he was in fact doping when he won a record 7 straight Tour de France titles.

Armstrong was not only a sports hero but an inspiration to cancer patients and survivors after battling testicular cancer, which may have been caused by steroid use, when he started the "Live Strong Foundation" and raised millions of dollars for cancer research.

But last October the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said  Armstrong was part of "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen," and Armstrong, without admitting guilt, stepped down as head of the foundation.  

So Armstrong has been stripped of all his titles, banned from cycling for life, lost his position with "Live Strong" and been disgraced in the eyes of the public, but still he denied any wrongdoing. Until now.

So why the dramatic turnaround? Rumor has it he wants to rehab his public image. But to what end? To return to the world of sports? To continue his fundraising efforts? Maybe the Oprah interview will give us a clue. But will Americans forgive and forget? That remains to be seen. 

The interview will air at 9pm Thursday on the Oprah Winfrey Network and will be simulcast on Oprah.com. CNN says, "Winfrey has promised a "no-holds-barred" interview, with no conditions and no payment made to Armstrong."