Armstrong claims not doping on cycling circuit was like bringing 'knives to gun fight'

Disgraced former American cyclist Lance Armstrong has claimed that he and his fellow cyclists had no option but to turn to doping, saying that they had brought knives to a gun fight, so they all went out and got guns to even things up.

The American was stripped of seven Tour de France 'wins' after confessing to taking performance-enhancing drugs in 2013. Armstrong went on to claim it was impossible to win the prestigious competition without doping and has now discussed whether it was all worth it.

Armstrong has admitted that the level of drug taking in cycling meant he and his peers had little alternative if they wanted to compete, The Mirror reported.

He said that once they realised, which was when they arrived in Europe, that they had brought knives to a gun fight, they all went out and got guns. He added that virtually everybody in the business made that decision.

The drugs cheat went on to slam the sport for its lack of unity with riders and teams given no power, adding that cycling and its hypocrisy is off the charts.

Armstrong also rejected the idea of complete rehabilitation because he is unable to rewrite his history, unlike other high-profile figures that have wronged, in particular Bill Clinton and Tiger Woods.

Armstrong said that if Clinton, after the affair at the White House, was told he could never speak in public again, never go around the world helping people, do all the things he does now, then he'd go down as the guy who did 'blah blah blah', with the intern.

Armstrong claimed that Clinton would still be considered an 'a**hole', adding that Woods as well.

The American cyclist claimed that they're forgiven because they got a chance to come back and tell a different story, but added that he can't change that narrative and he is forever the a**hole.