“Lance Armstrong’s decision finally to confront his past is an important step forward on the long road to repairing the damage that has been caused to cycling and to restoring confidence in the sport.” — UCI President Pat McQuaid.
“As much as it’s been shocking for the cycling world, it’s cycling that’s suffered for years, so hopefully through Lance’s confessions we can start looking to the future and something good can come out of this,” — 2004 Olympic gold medallist Stuart O’Grady.
“Tonight, Lance Armstrong finally acknowledged that his cycling career was built on a powerful combination of doping and deceit. His admission that he doped throughout his career is a small step in the right direction. But if he is sincere in his desire to correct his past mistakes, he will testify under oath about the full extent of his doping activities.” — Travis Tygart, head of the U.S.A.D.A.
“He was wrong, he cheated and there was no excuse for what he did. If he was looking for redemption, he didn’t succeed in getting that.” — John Fahey, President, WADA.
“We at the LIVESTRONG Foundation are disappointed by the news that Lance Armstrong misled people during and after his cycling career, including us. Earlier this week, Lance apologised to our staff and we accepted his apology in order to move on and chart a strong, independent course. We look forward to devoting our full energy to our mission of helping people not only fight and survive cancer, but also thrive in life after cancer.” — Official statement from Livestrong Foundation.
“It didn’t go far enough....He has to name names…He is probably the biggest cheat sport has ever known.” — David Walsh, a long-time Armstrong critic, to the BBC.
“He cheated the sport. He cheated many people around the world with his career, with his life story.” — tennis star Novak Djokovic.
“I think it’s just a really sad story, sad for that sport itself. I’m happy that our sport is as clean as it can be and that we’re constantly tested.” — Maria Sharapova.
“The problem with people like Lance, or any other dug cheat, is that they think everyone else is doing it, so they have to do it. In fact, not everyone else is doing it.” — Two-time Tour de France stage winner Robbie McEwen.
I commend @lancearmstrong for courageously coming forward, but I am disappointed that he let down the sport and his fans. — Basketball star Magic Johnson, via Twitter.
The Lance Armstrong interview has blown me away. Amazed on how matter of fact his answers are. Confirmed sociopath!! Athletes are ashamed. — Indian tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi, via Twitter.
“After years of lying to my face, Lance Armstrong apologises in an email. He can keep it.” — Veteran sports writer Rick Reilly, via Twitter.
“What a snivelling, lying, cheating little wretch @lancearmstrong revealed himself to be tonight. I hope he now just disappears.” — Piers Morgan, talk show host and former newspaper editor, via Twitter.
“I don’t want to waste any more of my time with Lance Armstrong. He’s an incredible actor and that’s what you (saw) today on the Oprah Winfrey Show.” — Former Armstrong mechanic and assistant Mike Anderson.
“If Armstrong had given Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton the same stuff he was taking, he would never have won. They would have beaten him.” — Greg Lemond, triple Tour de France winner.
“I didn’t have the feeling that he was regretting that he doped, I had more of a feeling that he regretted that he came back (out of retirement) and it was the start of all his problems.” — Joerg Jaksche, former German rider who previously admitted doping.
