Source: Lance Armstrong to make limited confession

AUSTIN, Texas -- Lance Armstrong will make a limited confession to doping during his televised interview with Oprah Winfrey this week, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Armstrong, who has long denied doping, also will offer an apology during the interview scheduled to be taped Monday at his home in Austin, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity.

While not directly saying he would confess or apologize, Armstrong sent a text message to The Associated Press early Saturday that said: "I told her [Winfrey] to go wherever she wants and I'll answer the questions directly, honestly and candidly. That's all I can say."

Armstrong, 41, who vehemently denied doping for years, has not spoken publicly about last year's U.S. Anti-Doping Agency report, which cast him as the leader of a sophisticated doping program on his U.S. Postal Service teams that included use of steroids, blood boosters and illegal blood transfusions.

The report led to Armstrong being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and given a lifetime ban from the sport.

Several outlets had said Armstrong was considering a confession. The interview will be broadcast Thursday on the Oprah Winfrey Network and oprah.com.

A confession would come at a time when Armstrong is still facing some legal troubles.

Armstrong faces a federal whistle-blower lawsuit filed by former teammate Floyd Landis accusing him of defrauding the U.S. Postal Service, but the U.S. Department of Justice has yet to announce if it will join the case.