Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong Reuters

Lance Armstrong confessed to talk show host Oprah Winfrey during a yet-unbroadcast interview Monday that he used performance-enhancing drugs to help him win the Tour de France, the Associated Press reports.

The AP said their source would only speak about the matter on the condition of anonymity considering the interview will air on Winfrey’s network Thursday.

The world's most famous cyclist was stripped of his seven Tour titles last year after he was exposed in a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency report, which portrayed him as an unscrupulous competitor who would to anything to win as many of the prestigious Tour de France titles as possible.

USADA CEO Travis Tygart said the doping regimen carried out by the U.S. Postal Service team that was once led by Armstrong was "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen."

Armstrong was dropped from his team after a federal investigation, according to the AP, without any charges being brought upon him.

Then the USADA began an investigation of its own and that was when 11 former teammates were ousted, along with Armstrong, accused of executing a complex and brazen drug program, which consisted of blood boosters, steroids and other types of performance-enhancers.

Armstrong says in the Winfrey interview, according to the AP's source:

"I'm sorry, but I wouldn't be if I hadn't been caught.”

That's no surprise, considering he denied using performance-enhancing drugs for years.

The “no-hold barred” 90-minute, question-and-answer interview with Winfrey can be seen on “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” on OWN network Thursday at 9/8c.

Check out the promo for the Lance Armstrong question-and-answer with Winfrey below:

Oprah and Lance Armstrong: The Worldwide Exclusive — First Look

Cyclist Lance Armstrong speaks exclusively with Oprah in his first interview since he was stripped of his Tour de France titles. He addresses the alleged doping scandal, years of accusations of cheating and the use of performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career. Find out more about this worldwide exclusive Watch Oprah's interview with Lance Armstrong on Thursday, January 17, from 9 to 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on OWN. The interview will be simultaneously streamed LIVE worldwide on Oprah.com and Facebook.com/owntv.

Oprah winfrey