(CNN) -- Lance Armstrong's attorney denied his client was in discussion with the U.S. or world anti-doping agencies following a report by The New York Times that the disgraced cycling icon was contemplating publicly admitting he used illegal performance-enhancing drugs.
Attorney Tim Herman in an email to CNN Sports late Friday did not address whether Armstrong told associates -- as reported by the newspaper -- that he was considering the admission as a way to restore his athletic eligibility.
Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned for life last year after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency found there was overwhelming evidence that he was directly involved in a sophisticated doping program.
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Cyclist Lance Armstrong has been stripped of his seven Tour de France wins and banned from the tournament for life, the International Cycling Union announced Monday, October 22. Pictured, Armstrong addresses participants at The Livestrong Challenge Ride on Sunday. He stepped down as chairman of his Livestrong cancer charity on Wednesday, October 17. Armstrong leads his teammates during the final stage of the 1999 Tour de France. Armstrong, 17, competes in the Jeep Triathlon Grand Prix in 1988. He became a professional triathlete at age 16 and joined the U.S. National Cycling Team two years later. In 1995, Armstrong wins the 18th stage of the Tour de France. He finished 36th overall and finished the race for the first time that year. Armstrong rides for charity in May 1998 at the Ikon Ride for the Roses to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation. He established the foundation to benefit cancer research after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1996. After treatment, he was declared cancer-free in February 1997. Armstrong takes his honor lap on the Champs-Élysées in Paris after winning the Tour de France for the first time in 1999. After winning the 2000 Tour de France, Armstrong holds his son Luke on his shoulders. Armstrong rides during the 18th stage of the 2001 Tour de France. He won the tour that year for the third consecutive time. Armstrong celebrates winning the 10th stage of the Tour de France in 2001. After winning the 2001 Tour de France, Armstrong presents President George W. Bush with a U.S. Postal Service yellow jersey and a replica of the bike he used to win the race. Armstrong celebrates on the podium after winning the Tour de France by 61 seconds in 2003. It was his fifth consecutive win. Jay Leno interviews Armstrong on "The Tonight Show" in 2003. After his six consecutive Tour de France win in 2004, Armstrong attends a celebration in his honor in front of the Texas State Capitol in Austin. Armstrong arrives at the 2005 American Music Awards in Los Angeles with his then-fiancee Sheryl Crow. The couple never made it down the aisle, splitting up the following year. Armstrong holds up a paper displaying the number seven at the start of the Tour de France in 2005. He went on to win his seventh consecutive victory. As a cancer survivor, Armstrong testifies during a Senate hearing in 2008 on Capitol Hill. The hearing focused on finding a cure for cancer in the 21st century. In 2009, Armstrong suffers a broken collarbone after falling during a race in Spain along with more than a dozen other riders. Young Armstrong fans write messages on the ground using yellow chalk ahead of the 2009 Tour de France. He came in third place that year. Armstrong launches the three-day Livestrong Global Cancer Summit in 2009 in Dublin, Ireland. The event was organized by his foundation. In May 2010, Armstrong crashes during the Amgen Tour of California and is taken to the hospital. That same day, he denied allegations of doping made by former teammate Floyd Landis. Ahead of what he said would be his last Tour de France, Armstrong gears up for the start of the race in 2010. Lance Armstrong looks back as he rides in a breakaway during the 2010 Tour de France. Armstrong finishes 23rd in the 2010 Tour de France. He announced his retirement from the world of professional cycling in February 2011. He said he wants to devote more time to his family and the fight against cancer. Armstrong's son Luke; twin daughters, Isabelle and Grace; and 1-year-old son, Max, stand outside the Radioshack team bus on a rest day during the 2010 Tour de France. The frame of Armstrong's bike is engraved with the names of his four children at the time and the Spanish word for five, "cinco." His fifth child, Olivia, was born in October 2010. In February 2012, Armstrong competes in the 70.3 Ironman Triathlon in Panama City. He went on to claim two Half Ironman triathlon titles by June. He got back into the sport after retiring from professional cycling. Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years HIDE CAPTION << < 
Armstrong leads his teammates during the final stage of the 1999 Tour de France. 
Armstrong, 17, competes in the Jeep Triathlon Grand Prix in 1988. He became a professional triathlete at age 16 and joined the U.S. National Cycling Team two years later. 
In 1995, Armstrong wins the 18th stage of the Tour de France. He finished 36th overall and finished the race for the first time that year. 
Armstrong rides for charity in May 1998 at the Ikon Ride for the Roses to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation. He established the foundation to benefit cancer research after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1996. After treatment, he was declared cancer-free in February 1997. 
Armstrong takes his honor lap on the Champs-Élysées in Paris after winning the Tour de France for the first time in 1999. 
After winning the 2000 Tour de France, Armstrong holds his son Luke on his shoulders. 
Armstrong rides during the 18th stage of the 2001 Tour de France. He won the tour that year for the third consecutive time. 
Armstrong celebrates winning the 10th stage of the Tour de France in 2001. 
After winning the 2001 Tour de France, Armstrong presents President George W. Bush with a U.S. Postal Service yellow jersey and a replica of the bike he used to win the race. 
Armstrong celebrates on the podium after winning the Tour de France by 61 seconds in 2003. It was his fifth consecutive win. 
Jay Leno interviews Armstrong on "The Tonight Show" in 2003. 
After his six consecutive Tour de France win in 2004, Armstrong attends a celebration in his honor in front of the Texas State Capitol in Austin. 
Armstrong arrives at the 2005 American Music Awards in Los Angeles with his then-fiancee Sheryl Crow. The couple never made it down the aisle, splitting up the following year. 
Armstrong holds up a paper displaying the number seven at the start of the Tour de France in 2005. He went on to win his seventh consecutive victory. 
As a cancer survivor, Armstrong testifies during a Senate hearing in 2008 on Capitol Hill. The hearing focused on finding a cure for cancer in the 21st century. 
In 2009, Armstrong suffers a broken collarbone after falling during a race in Spain along with more than a dozen other riders. 
Young Armstrong fans write messages on the ground using yellow chalk ahead of the 2009 Tour de France. He came in third place that year. 
Armstrong launches the three-day Livestrong Global Cancer Summit in 2009 in Dublin, Ireland. The event was organized by his foundation. 
In May 2010, Armstrong crashes during the Amgen Tour of California and is taken to the hospital. That same day, he denied allegations of doping made by former teammate Floyd Landis. 
Ahead of what he said would be his last Tour de France, Armstrong gears up for the start of the race in 2010. 
Lance Armstrong looks back as he rides in a breakaway during the 2010 Tour de France. 
Armstrong finishes 23rd in the 2010 Tour de France. He announced his retirement from the world of professional cycling in February 2011. He said he wants to devote more time to his family and the fight against cancer. 
Armstrong's son Luke; twin daughters, Isabelle and Grace; and 1-year-old son, Max, stand outside the Radioshack team bus on a rest day during the 2010 Tour de France. 
The frame of Armstrong's bike is engraved with the names of his four children at the time and the Spanish word for five, "cinco." His fifth child, Olivia, was born in October 2010. 
In February 2012, Armstrong competes in the 70.3 Ironman Triathlon in Panama City. He went on to claim two Half Ironman triathlon titles by June. He got back into the sport after retiring from professional cycling. Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years HIDE CAPTION << < 
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26 > >> Photos: Lance Armstrong over the years .cnnArticleGalleryNav{border:1px solid #000;cursor:pointer;float:left;height:25px;text-align:center;width:25px} .cnnArticleGalleryNavOn{background-color:#C03;border:1px solid #000;float:left;height:25px;text-align:center;width:20px} .cnnArticleGalleryNavDisabled{background-color:#222;border:1px solid #000;color:#666;float:left;height:25px;text-align:center;width:25px} .cnnArticleExpandableTarget{background-color:#000;display:none;position:absolute} .cnnArticlePhotoContainer{height:122px;width:214px} .cnnArticleBoxImage{cursor:pointer;height:122px;padding-top:0;width:214px} .cnnArticleGalleryCaptionControl{background-color:#000;color:#FFF} .cnnArticleGalleryCaptionControlText{cursor:pointer;float:right;font-size:10px;padding:3px 10px 3px 3px} .cnnArticleGalleryPhotoContainer cite{background:none repeat scroll 0 0 #000;bottom:48px;color:#FFF;height:auto;left:420px;opacity:.7;position:absolute;width:200px;padding:10px} .cnnArticleGalleryClose{background-color:#fff;display:block;text-align:right} .cnnArticleGalleryCloseButton{cursor:pointer} .cnnArticleGalleryNavPrevNext span{background-color:#444;color:#CCC;cursor:pointer;float:left;height:23px;text-align:center;width:26px;padding:4px 0 0} .cnnArticleGalleryNavPrevNextDisabled span{background-color:#444;color:#666;float:left;height:23px;text-align:center;width:25px;padding:4px 0 0} .cnnVerticalGalleryPhoto{padding-right:68px;width:270px;margin:0 auto} .cnnGalleryContainer{float:left;clear:left;margin:0 0 20px;padding:0 0 0 10px} 
After a bright start to his English Premier League career, Spanish soccer star Santi Cazorla majorly blotted his copybook when his theatrical tumble earned a penalty -- and the fury of opposing team West Brom -- as Arsenal claimed a controversial 2-0 victory. Dick Pound earned the wrath of both the UCI and Lance Armstrong during his time as World Anti-Doping Agency president after constantly questioning the use of drugs in cycling. Although his views have since been fully validated, he still warns that not enough is being done to combat doping. Despite taking over 200 drug tests, Armstrong -- seen here leaving an anti-doping control center during the 2005 Tour de France -- never recorded a positive result, prompting some to question the real nature of modern-day sport. South African runner Hezekiel Sepeng (left), who won silver in the 1996 Olympic 800m final but was later banned for using an anabolic steroid, now says dopers are like "thugs, stealing from those who are clean and taking their opportunity." He currently coaches aspiring youngsters in his homeland. Ben Johnson's late coach Charlie Francis -- seen here moments after the Canadian sprinter won the 1988 Olympic 100m final -- insisted that his charge, who was later stripped of his title for drug abuse, had to dope to literally keep pace with his rivals. Soviet pentathlete Boris Onischenko (left) earned the sobriquet "Dis-Onischenko" after the army major rewired his epee to enable it to earn undeserved points in fencing during the 1976 Olympic Games. He was disqualified for cheating before later being thrown out of the army. East German swimmer Rica Reinisch shot to fame when winning three golds in the 1980 Olympics at the age of 15. To her dismay, she later learned she had been doped by the Stasi -- with testosterone-based steroids that enlarged her ovaries and caused two miscarriages. Now a mother of two, she regrets never knowing how she would have done without drugs. Andreas Krieger is surely the most visible face of the government-backed East German doping program, having won gold in the women's shot put at the 1986 European Championships. Unwittingly pumped full of anabolic steroids, Heidi Krieger was so confused about her sexuality she "didn't know who (she) was anymore" -- and eventually had a sex change in 1997. Krieger is now an ardent anti-doping campaigner. F1's Renault stunned world sport when ordering Nelson Piquet Junior to crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix in order to enable teammate Fernando Alonso to win the race, with the fuel-laden Spaniard profiting from his rivals' lack of pit stops to cruise to victory after the safety car's exit. Piquet is now in stock car racing. "Bloodgate" rocked English rugby in 2009 when Harlequins' Tom Williams used a fake blood capsule to feign injury and enable an enforced substitution during a cup tie. His replacment almost won the game and Harlequins' director of rugby Dean Richards later trotted out the familiar line that he sanctioned the deceit in the belief that "this was something that was happening on a regular basis at other clubs." He recently ended a three-year ban from the sport. Diego Maradona excused his handball goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal by saying it was revenge for the Falklands War of four years earlier, when troops from both countries were engaged in fatal fighting over the sovereignty of the islands -- which lie off the coast of Argentina. Diving into trouble Pounding forward Doping 'control' Reformed character Cheating Charlie Dis-Onischenko Rica's Regret Changing Faces Road to Ruin A Bloody Mess One-hand band HIDE CAPTION << < 
Dick Pound earned the wrath of both the UCI and Lance Armstrong during his time as World Anti-Doping Agency president after constantly questioning the use of drugs in cycling. Although his views have since been fully validated, he still warns that not enough is being done to combat doping. 
Despite taking over 200 drug tests, Armstrong -- seen here leaving an anti-doping control center during the 2005 Tour de France -- never recorded a positive result, prompting some to question the real nature of modern-day sport. 
South African runner Hezekiel Sepeng (left), who won silver in the 1996 Olympic 800m final but was later banned for using an anabolic steroid, now says dopers are like "thugs, stealing from those who are clean and taking their opportunity." He currently coaches aspiring youngsters in his homeland. 
Ben Johnson's late coach Charlie Francis -- seen here moments after the Canadian sprinter won the 1988 Olympic 100m final -- insisted that his charge, who was later stripped of his title for drug abuse, had to dope to literally keep pace with his rivals. 
Soviet pentathlete Boris Onischenko (left) earned the sobriquet "Dis-Onischenko" after the army major rewired his epee to enable it to earn undeserved points in fencing during the 1976 Olympic Games. He was disqualified for cheating before later being thrown out of the army. 
East German swimmer Rica Reinisch shot to fame when winning three golds in the 1980 Olympics at the age of 15. To her dismay, she later learned she had been doped by the Stasi -- with testosterone-based steroids that enlarged her ovaries and caused two miscarriages. Now a mother of two, she regrets never knowing how she would have done without drugs. 
Andreas Krieger is surely the most visible face of the government-backed East German doping program, having won gold in the women's shot put at the 1986 European Championships. Unwittingly pumped full of anabolic steroids, Heidi Krieger was so confused about her sexuality she "didn't know who (she) was anymore" -- and eventually had a sex change in 1997. Krieger is now an ardent anti-doping campaigner. 
F1's Renault stunned world sport when ordering Nelson Piquet Junior to crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix in order to enable teammate Fernando Alonso to win the race, with the fuel-laden Spaniard profiting from his rivals' lack of pit stops to cruise to victory after the safety car's exit. Piquet is now in stock car racing. 
"Bloodgate" rocked English rugby in 2009 when Harlequins' Tom Williams used a fake blood capsule to feign injury and enable an enforced substitution during a cup tie. His replacment almost won the game and Harlequins' director of rugby Dean Richards later trotted out the familiar line that he sanctioned the deceit in the belief that "this was something that was happening on a regular basis at other clubs." He recently ended a three-year ban from the sport. 
Diego Maradona excused his handball goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal by saying it was revenge for the Falklands War of four years earlier, when troops from both countries were engaged in fatal fighting over the sovereignty of the islands -- which lie off the coast of Argentina. Diving into trouble Pounding forward Doping 'control' Reformed character Cheating Charlie Dis-Onischenko Rica's Regret Changing Faces Road to Ruin A Bloody Mess One-hand band HIDE CAPTION << < 
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11 > >> Sport's rogues gallery .cnnArticleGalleryNav{border:1px solid #000;cursor:pointer;float:left;height:25px;text-align:center;width:25px} .cnnArticleGalleryNavOn{background-color:#C03;border:1px solid #000;float:left;height:25px;text-align:center;width:20px} .cnnArticleGalleryNavDisabled{background-color:#222;border:1px solid #000;color:#666;float:left;height:25px;text-align:center;width:25px} .cnnArticleExpandableTarget{background-color:#000;display:none;position:absolute} .cnnArticlePhotoContainer{height:122px;width:214px} .cnnArticleBoxImage{cursor:pointer;height:122px;padding-top:0;width:214px} .cnnArticleGalleryCaptionControl{background-color:#000;color:#FFF} .cnnArticleGalleryCaptionControlText{cursor:pointer;float:right;font-size:10px;padding:3px 10px 3px 3px} .cnnArticleGalleryPhotoContainer cite{background:none repeat scroll 0 0 #000;bottom:48px;color:#FFF;height:auto;left:420px;opacity:.7;position:absolute;width:200px;padding:10px} .cnnArticleGalleryClose{background-color:#fff;display:block;text-align:right} .cnnArticleGalleryCloseButton{cursor:pointer} .cnnArticleGalleryNavPrevNext span{background-color:#444;color:#CCC;cursor:pointer;float:left;height:23px;text-align:center;width:26px;padding:4px 0 0} .cnnArticleGalleryNavPrevNextDisabled span{background-color:#444;color:#666;float:left;height:23px;text-align:center;width:25px;padding:4px 0 0} .cnnVerticalGalleryPhoto{padding-right:68px;width:270px;margin:0 auto} .cnnGalleryContainer{float:left;clear:left;margin:0 0 20px;padding:0 0 0 10px} 
After conquering cancer and winning seven Tour de France titles, Lance Armstrong became an American icon. However, after years of doping allegations, which the cyclist steadfastly denied, the sport's governing body stripped him of his titles and banned him for life. Barry Bonds is baseball's all-time home run leader, but some commentators say there should be an asterisk by his record. Though he's said he never knowingly used steroids, two San Francisco reporters wrote a book alleging he used performance-enhancing drugs. He was indicted on charges of perjury and obstructing justice for allegedly lying to a grand jury investigating steroids, and convicted of obstruction of justice. Lyle Alzado was known as one of the most vicious lineman to ever play the game, and he chalked up more than 100 sacks and almost 1,000 tackles. Before his death from brain cancer at age 43, he told Sports Illustrated he began using steroids in 1969 and that, "On some teams between 75 and 90% of all athletes use steroids." Known as "Rocket" for his aggressive pitching style, Roger Clemens played pro ball for more than two decades, racking up seven Cy Youngs. He left Major League Baseball under a cloud of steroid allegations, despite a court finding him not guilty of perjury when he told Congress he never used the drugs. At 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, Alistair Overeem is known for putting mixed martial arts star Brock Lesnar into early retirement. Ahead of a heavyweight title match against UFC champion Junior dos Santos in May, Overeem tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone and was yanked from the card. An early and chief accuser of Armstrong, Floyd Landis was himself stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. He admitted doping in 2010, the same year he accused many other riders of doping as well. As the most decorated Olympian ever, with 22 medals, Michael Phelps is known as a fish in human's clothing, but for a brief period in 2009, after a photo of him smoking a bong was made public, he also was known as a pothead. Despite losing sponsors, he quickly became known for swimming again, securing six medals in the 2012 Games. Marion Jones was a world champion track and field athlete who won several titles in the 1990s and five medals during the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. After admitting in 2007 that she had taken performance-enhancing drugs, she was stripped of the gold medals and other honors won after the 2000 Games. Known as "Lights Out" after knocking out four players in a high school game, Shawne Merriman entered the NFL with fanfare, earning 2005 Rookie of the Year honors. His 2006 suspension for steroid use prompted the "Merriman Rule," prohibiting any player who tests positive for steroids from going to the Pro Bowl that year. After his former Texas Rangers teammate Jose Canseco accused him of using steroids, Rafael Palmeiro appeared before Congress to deny the allegations. Later that year, he was suspended from baseball for testing positive for steroids. He maintains to this day he has never knowingly taken performance enhancers. Few NBA players have tested positive for steroids, not only because the sport relies less on raw strength and speed than other sports but also because the league didn't begin testing until 1999. Miami Heat forward Don MacLean became the first to fail a test in 2000, and he was suspended for five games. After racking up awards in college football, Ricky Williams was picked in the first round of the pro football draft in 1999. After testing positive for marijuana in 2004 as a Miami Dolphin, Williams retired and studied holistic medicine in California. He returned to the Dolphins the following year, only to have more run-ins with the NFL drug policy. He retired again in 2011. Bill Romanowski was known for hard hits on the gridiron, but he also violently attacked teammate Marcus Williams during a scrimmage while playing for the Oakland Raiders. In a lawsuit, Williams blamed the attack on Romanowski's "roid rage." Romanowski settled the suit and in 2005 admitted to "60 Minutes" that he used steroids. Sprinter Tim Montgomery set the world record in the 100-meter dash in 2002, but the time was scratched after he was found to have used performance-enhancing drugs. Since his retirement, he has had other legal troubles including arrests for money laundering and heroin offenses. He was sentenced to jail time for both. An Olympian and renowned longball hitter, Mark McGwire spent his entire career with the Oakland A's and St. Louis Cardinals, breaking the single-season home run record in 1998. In 2010, he admitted using steroids over the course of a decade but told Bob Costas in an interview he took them only for health reasons. Ross Rebagliati won a gold medal during the first year of snowboarding at the 1988 Olympics. He was stripped of the medal after testing positive for the active ingredient in marijuana. It became fodder for late-night talk show jokes, but Rebagliati eventually got his medal back after it was determined marijuana was not a banned substance. A winner of eight Grand Slam events, Andre Agassi was considered one of the most dominant tennis players of the 1990s. In 2009, the tennis pro acknowledged in his autobiography that he had failed a drug test for methamphetamine in 1997 but skirted punishment by blaming an assistant. Regarded as the best soccer player after Pele, Diego Maradona was known for his deft footwork and knack for finding the net. In 1991, he was suspended for 15 months after testing positive for cocaine. He would later admit he was addicted to the drug for about 20 years and began using when he was playing for Barcelona in the 1980s. A prolific sprinter in the 1980s, Canadian Ben Johnson routinely bested American Carl Lewis in the 100-meter dash. After winning the gold at Seoul in 1988, Johnson tested positive for a steroid. His coach said Johnson took the drugs to keep up with other athletes and later wrote a book saying all top athletes were using in those days. Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports HIDE CAPTION << < 
Barry Bonds is baseball's all-time home run leader, but some commentators say there should be an asterisk by his record. Though he's said he never knowingly used steroids, two San Francisco reporters wrote a book alleging he used performance-enhancing drugs. He was indicted on charges of perjury and obstructing justice for allegedly lying to a grand jury investigating steroids, and convicted of obstruction of justice. 
Lyle Alzado was known as one of the most vicious lineman to ever play the game, and he chalked up more than 100 sacks and almost 1,000 tackles. Before his death from brain cancer at age 43, he told Sports Illustrated he began using steroids in 1969 and that, "On some teams between 75 and 90% of all athletes use steroids." 
Known as "Rocket" for his aggressive pitching style, Roger Clemens played pro ball for more than two decades, racking up seven Cy Youngs. He left Major League Baseball under a cloud of steroid allegations, despite a court finding him not guilty of perjury when he told Congress he never used the drugs. 
At 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, Alistair Overeem is known for putting mixed martial arts star Brock Lesnar into early retirement. Ahead of a heavyweight title match against UFC champion Junior dos Santos in May, Overeem tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone and was yanked from the card. 
An early and chief accuser of Armstrong, Floyd Landis was himself stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. He admitted doping in 2010, the same year he accused many other riders of doping as well. 
As the most decorated Olympian ever, with 22 medals, Michael Phelps is known as a fish in human's clothing, but for a brief period in 2009, after a photo of him smoking a bong was made public, he also was known as a pothead. Despite losing sponsors, he quickly became known for swimming again, securing six medals in the 2012 Games. 
Marion Jones was a world champion track and field athlete who won several titles in the 1990s and five medals during the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. After admitting in 2007 that she had taken performance-enhancing drugs, she was stripped of the gold medals and other honors won after the 2000 Games. 
Known as "Lights Out" after knocking out four players in a high school game, Shawne Merriman entered the NFL with fanfare, earning 2005 Rookie of the Year honors. His 2006 suspension for steroid use prompted the "Merriman Rule," prohibiting any player who tests positive for steroids from going to the Pro Bowl that year. 
After his former Texas Rangers teammate Jose Canseco accused him of using steroids, Rafael Palmeiro appeared before Congress to deny the allegations. Later that year, he was suspended from baseball for testing positive for steroids. He maintains to this day he has never knowingly taken performance enhancers. 
Few NBA players have tested positive for steroids, not only because the sport relies less on raw strength and speed than other sports but also because the league didn't begin testing until 1999. Miami Heat forward Don MacLean became the first to fail a test in 2000, and he was suspended for five games. 
After racking up awards in college football, Ricky Williams was picked in the first round of the pro football draft in 1999. After testing positive for marijuana in 2004 as a Miami Dolphin, Williams retired and studied holistic medicine in California. He returned to the Dolphins the following year, only to have more run-ins with the NFL drug policy. He retired again in 2011. 
Bill Romanowski was known for hard hits on the gridiron, but he also violently attacked teammate Marcus Williams during a scrimmage while playing for the Oakland Raiders. In a lawsuit, Williams blamed the attack on Romanowski's "roid rage." Romanowski settled the suit and in 2005 admitted to "60 Minutes" that he used steroids. 
Sprinter Tim Montgomery set the world record in the 100-meter dash in 2002, but the time was scratched after he was found to have used performance-enhancing drugs. Since his retirement, he has had other legal troubles including arrests for money laundering and heroin offenses. He was sentenced to jail time for both. 
An Olympian and renowned longball hitter, Mark McGwire spent his entire career with the Oakland A's and St. Louis Cardinals, breaking the single-season home run record in 1998. In 2010, he admitted using steroids over the course of a decade but told Bob Costas in an interview he took them only for health reasons. 
Ross Rebagliati won a gold medal during the first year of snowboarding at the 1988 Olympics. He was stripped of the medal after testing positive for the active ingredient in marijuana. It became fodder for late-night talk show jokes, but Rebagliati eventually got his medal back after it was determined marijuana was not a banned substance. 
A winner of eight Grand Slam events, Andre Agassi was considered one of the most dominant tennis players of the 1990s. In 2009, the tennis pro acknowledged in his autobiography that he had failed a drug test for methamphetamine in 1997 but skirted punishment by blaming an assistant. 
Regarded as the best soccer player after Pele, Diego Maradona was known for his deft footwork and knack for finding the net. In 1991, he was suspended for 15 months after testing positive for cocaine. He would later admit he was addicted to the drug for about 20 years and began using when he was playing for Barcelona in the 1980s. 
A prolific sprinter in the 1980s, Canadian Ben Johnson routinely bested American Carl Lewis in the 100-meter dash. After winning the gold at Seoul in 1988, Johnson tested positive for a steroid. His coach said Johnson took the drugs to keep up with other athletes and later wrote a book saying all top athletes were using in those days. Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports Drug scandals in sports HIDE CAPTION << < 
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"All that is left is for a mea culpa -- but I don't think that is ever going to come," said president of the Austin Cycling Association Gilbert Martinez. Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop in Austin, Texas, owned by disgraced former cyclist Lance Armstrong. The store in Armstrong's hometown had become a shrine to his seven Tour de France titles, which have now been stripped following doping revelations. Armstrong rides during the 18th stage of the 2001 Tour de France. He won the tour that year for the third consecutive time. Three of Armstrong's yellow jersey hang inside Mellow Johnny's. Young Armstrong fans write messages on the ground using yellow chalk ahead of the 2009 Tour de France. He came third that year. The Armstrong legend has helped turn Austin into a cycling-mad city. As a cancer survivor, Armstrong testifies during a Senate hearing in 2008 on Capitol Hill. The hearing focused on finding a cure for cancer in the 21st century. Armstrong has stepped down as chairman of the Livestrong cancer charity, which he founded, as a result of the scandal. Ahead of what he said would be his last Tour de France, Armstrong gears up for the start of the race in 2010. He went on to race in the 2011 tour. Cyclists can ride the Lance Armstrong Bikeway through the city. Many in Austin have stood by Armstrong despite the allegations of widespread and systematic doping. Austin recently made its debut as a Formula One venue, hosting November's United States Grand Prix. Red Bull driver Mark Webber, pictured here in 2008, and seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher both bought bikes from Mellow Johnny's. Mea culpa? Mellow Johnny's Three and easy Mellow yellow Fallen idol Pedal power Livestrong Lance's longevity Lance's lanes The winning formula HIDE CAPTION << < 
Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop in Austin, Texas, owned by disgraced former cyclist Lance Armstrong. The store in Armstrong's hometown had become a shrine to his seven Tour de France titles, which have now been stripped following doping revelations. 
Armstrong rides during the 18th stage of the 2001 Tour de France. He won the tour that year for the third consecutive time. 
Three of Armstrong's yellow jersey hang inside Mellow Johnny's. 
The Armstrong legend has helped turn Austin into a cycling-mad city. 
Ahead of what he said would be his last Tour de France, Armstrong gears up for the start of the race in 2010. He went on to race in the 2011 tour. 
Cyclists can ride the Lance Armstrong Bikeway through the city. Many in Austin have stood by Armstrong despite the allegations of widespread and systematic doping. 
Austin recently made its debut as a Formula One venue, hosting November's United States Grand Prix. Red Bull driver Mark Webber, pictured here in 2008, and seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher both bought bikes from Mellow Johnny's. Mea culpa? Mellow Johnny's Three and easy Mellow yellow Fallen idol Pedal power Livestrong Lance's longevity Lance's lanes The winning formula HIDE CAPTION << < 
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10 > >> Armstrong's Austin legacy .cnnArticleGalleryNav{border:1px solid #000;cursor:pointer;float:left;height:25px;text-align:center;width:25px} .cnnArticleGalleryNavOn{background-color:#C03;border:1px solid #000;float:left;height:25px;text-align:center;width:20px} .cnnArticleGalleryNavDisabled{background-color:#222;border:1px solid #000;color:#666;float:left;height:25px;text-align:center;width:25px} .cnnArticleExpandableTarget{background-color:#000;display:none;position:absolute} .cnnArticlePhotoContainer{height:122px;width:214px} .cnnArticleBoxImage{cursor:pointer;height:122px;padding-top:0;width:214px} .cnnArticleGalleryCaptionControl{background-color:#000;color:#FFF} .cnnArticleGalleryCaptionControlText{cursor:pointer;float:right;font-size:10px;padding:3px 10px 3px 3px} .cnnArticleGalleryPhotoContainer cite{background:none repeat scroll 0 0 #000;bottom:48px;color:#FFF;height:auto;left:420px;opacity:.7;position:absolute;width:200px;padding:10px} .cnnArticleGalleryClose{background-color:#fff;display:block;text-align:right} .cnnArticleGalleryCloseButton{cursor:pointer} .cnnArticleGalleryNavPrevNext span{background-color:#444;color:#CCC;cursor:pointer;float:left;height:23px;text-align:center;width:26px;padding:4px 0 0} .cnnArticleGalleryNavPrevNextDisabled span{background-color:#444;color:#666;float:left;height:23px;text-align:center;width:25px;padding:4px 0 0} .cnnVerticalGalleryPhoto{padding-right:68px;width:270px;margin:0 auto} .cnnGalleryContainer{float:left;clear:left;margin:0 0 20px;padding:0 0 0 10px} 
Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong is the subject of annual Bonfire Night celebrations in the British town of Edenbridge. An effigy of Armstrong will be burned during the celebrations, which mark the foiling of Guy Fawkes' "gunpowder plot" to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill King James I in 1605. The Edenbridge Bonfire Soceity has gained a reputation for using celebrity "Guys," including Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac and Saddam Hussein. The decision to decorate the effigy with a medal saying "Jim Fixed It For Me" has attracted criticism. The medal is a reference to deceased British broadcaster Jimmy Savile, who is now the subject of hundreds of allegations of child abuse. Up in flames Outrage HIDE CAPTION << < 
The decision to decorate the effigy with a medal saying "Jim Fixed It For Me" has attracted criticism. The medal is a reference to deceased British broadcaster Jimmy Savile, who is now the subject of hundreds of allegations of child abuse. Up in flames Outrage HIDE CAPTION << < 
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Armstrong effigy causes outrage 
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Armstrong may have to pay back bonuses Armstrong has repeatedly and vehemently denied that he used banned performance-enhancing drugs as well as illegal blood transfusions during his cycling career.
In the past, Armstrong has argued that he took more than 500 drug tests and never failed. In its 202-page report that detailed Armstrong's alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs and blood transfusions, the USADA said it had tested Armstrong less than 60 times and the International Cycling Union conducted about 215 tests.
The agency did not say that Armstrong ever failed a test, but his former teammates testified as to how they beat tests or avoided the tests altogether.
The New York Times, citing unnamed associates and anti-doping officials, said Armstrong has been in discussions with USADA officials and hopes to meet with David Howman chief of the World Anti-Doping Agency. The newspaper said none of the people with knowledge of Armstrong's situation wanted to be identified because it would jeopardize their access to information on the matter.
Under World Anti-Doping Agency rules, an athlete who confesses to using performance-enhancing drugs may be eligible for a reinstatement.
Armstrong has been an icon for his cycling feats and celebrity, bringing more status to a sport wildly popular in some nations but lacking big-name recognition, big money and mass appeal in the United States.
He fought back from testicular cancer to win the Tour from 1999 to 2005. He raised millions via his Lance Armstrong Foundation to help cancer victims and survivors, an effort illustrated by trendy yellow "LiveSTRONG" wristbands that helped bring in the money.
The cyclist's one-time high-profile relationship with singer Sheryl Crow also kept him in the public eye.
But Armstrong has long been dogged by doping allegations, with compatriot Floyd Landis -- who was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title after failing a drug test -- making a series of claims in 2011.
Armstrong sued the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency last year to stop its investigation of him, arguing it did not have the right to prosecute him. But after a federal judge dismissed the case, Armstrong said he would no longer participate in the investigation.
In October 2012, Armstrong was stripped of his titles and banned. Weeks later, he stepped down from the board of his foundation, Livestrong.
It is unclear whether Armstrong would face criminal prosecution for perjury should he confess. Armstrong was involved in several cases where he gave sworn testimony that he never used banned drugs.
Armstrong and his publicist did not immediately respond to a CNN requests late Friday and early Saturday for comment on The New York Times report.
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