
2012 was a year to forget for Lance Armstrong.
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The head of US Anti-Doping Agency has confirmed that disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong once offered to donate about $250,000 to anti-doping efforts.
Travis Tygart, who headed USADA's investigation into Armstrong that eventually resulted in the seven-time Tour de France champion being stripped of his titles, told US 60 Minutes that he had no qualms in refusing the donation.
"I was stunned," Tygart said in a statement released by the program. "It was clear - it was a clear conflict of interest for USADA.
"We had no hesitation in rejecting that offer."
Tygart also said that Armstrong allegedly donated $100,000 to the UCI in a similar 'gift', ostensibly to assist in anti-doping efforts.
Armstrong continues to deny that he has ever used performance-enhancing drugs or illegal doping methods, despite USADA's enormous body of evidence from his teammates, colleagues and rivals.
However, the New York Times reported at the weekend that Armstrong is considering a public confession in a bid to mitigate his lifetime ban under world anti-doping regulations.