FILE - In this July 24, 2005 file photo showing overall leader Lance Armstrong, of Austin, Texas, surrounded by press photographers, signaling seven, for his seventh straight win in the Tour de France cycling race, prior to the start of the 21st and final stage of the race, between Corbeil-Essonnes, south of Paris, and the French capital. After more than a decade of denying that he doped to win the Tour de France seven times, Armstrong was set to sit down Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, in Austin, Texas, for what has been trumpeted as a "no-holds barred," 90-minute, question-and-answer session with Oprah Winfrey. An unidentified man enters a gate at the home of cyclist Lance Armstrong, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, in Austin, Texas. After more than a decade of denying that he doped to win the Tour de France seven times, Armstrong was set to sit down Monday for what has been trumpeted as a "no-holds barred," 90-minute, question-and-answer session with Oprah Winfrey. AP Photo/Eric Gay A delivery man waves to media after dropping a package at the home of cyclist Lance Armstrong, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, in Austin, Texas. Armstrong is scheduled to give a "no-holds barred" interview to Oprah Winfrey. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - After a decade of denial, Lance Armstrong has finally come clean: He used performance-enhancing drugs to win the Tour de France. The disgraced cyclist made the confession to Oprah Winfrey during an interview taped Monday, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The admission Monday came hours after an emotional apology by Armstrong to the Livestrong charity that he founded and took global on the strength of his celebrity as a cancer survivor who came back to win one of sport's most grueling events. The confession was a stunning reversal, after years of public statements, interviews and court battles in which he denied doping and zealously protected his reputation. Winfrey tweeted afterward, "Just wrapped with (at) lancearmstrong More than 2 1/2 hours. Even before the taping session with Winfrey began around 2 p.m., EST, Armstrong's apology suggested he would carry through on promises over the weekend to answer her questions "directly, honestly and candidly." The cyclist was stripped of his Tour de France titles, lost most of his endorsements and was forced to leave the foundation last year after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency issued a damning, 1,000-page report that accused him of masterminding a long-running doping scheme. About 100 staff members of the charity Armstrong founded in 1997 gathered in a conference room as Armstrong arrived with a simple message: "I'm sorry." He choked up during a 20-minute talk, expressing regret for the long-running controversy tied to performance-enhancers had caused, but stopped short of admitting he used them. Before he was done, several members were in tears when he urged them to continue the charity's mission, helping cancer patients and their families. "Heartfelt and sincere," is how Livestrong spokesman Katherine McLane described his speech. Armstrong later huddled with almost a dozen people before stepping into a room set up at a downtown Austin hotel for the interview. The group included close friends and advisers, two of his lawyers and Bill Stapleton, his agent, manager and business partner. They exchanged handshakes and smiles, but declined comment when approached by a reporter. Most members of that group left the hotel through the front entrance around 5 p.m., although Armstrong was not with them. No further details about the interview were available immediately because of confidentiality agreements signed by both camps. But Winfrey promoted it as a "no-holds barred" session, and after the voluminous USADA report - which included testimony from 11 former teammates - she had plenty of material for questions. USADA chief executive Travis Tygart, a longtime critic of Armstrong's, called the drug regimen practiced while Armstrong led the U.S. Postal Service team, "The most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen." Armstrong also went after his critics ruthlessly during his reign as cycling champion. He scolded some in public and didn't hesitate to punish outspoken riders during the race itself. He waged legal battles against still others in court. Betsy Andreu, the wife of former Armstrong teammate Frankie Andreu, was one of the first to publicly accuse Armstrong of using performance-enhancing drugs. She called news of Armstrong's confession "very emotional and very sad," and got choked up as well when asked to comment. He used to be one of my husband's best friends and because he wouldn't go along with the doping, he got kicked to the side. Lance could have a positive impact if he tells the truth on everything. He's got to be completely honest," she said. At least one of his opponents, the London-based Sunday Times, has already filed a lawsuit to recover about $500,000 it paid him to settle a libel case, and Dallas-based SCA Promotions, which tried to deny Armstrong a promised bonus for a Tour de France win, has threatened to bring yet another lawsuit seeking to recover more than $7.5 million an arbitration panel awarded the cyclist in that dispute. In addition, former teammate Floyd Landis, who was stripped of the 2006 Tour de France title for doping, has filed a federal whistle-blower lawsuit that accused Armstrong of defrauding the U.S. Postal Service. Armstrong is said to be worth around $100 million. But most sponsors dropped him after USADA's scathing report - at the cost of tens of millions of dollars - and soon after, he left the board of Livestrong. After the USADA findings, he was also barred from competing in the elite triathlon or running events he participated in after his cycling career. Whether his confession would begin to heal those ruptures and restore that reputation remains to be seen. Diagnosed with testicular cancer in October 1996, the disease soon spread to his lungs and brains. Armstrong's doctors gave him a 40 percent chance of survival at the time and never expected he'd compete at anything more strenuous than gin rummy. Winning the demanding race less than three years later made Armstrong a hero.