Posted Tuesday, January 15, 2013--- 5:30 p.m.
Lance Armstrong admitted to doping during an interview with Oprah Winfrey, concerning cancer centers in the Madison community who depend on Livestrong grants, while others are still calling him a hero.
Armstrong was stripped of his Tour De France titles, banned from cycling for life, and forced to leave Livestrong after being accused last year, but last night was the first time the words came from his mouth, admitting publicly to doping.
This is a requirement from the World Anti-Doping Agency before having a possible reduction in that lifetime ban.
A cancer survivor himself, Armstrong's become a figure for the cancer fight, founding the charity Livestrong in 1997.
Cancer centers who use Livestrong grants like Carbone in Madison are concerned this news will deter people from donating.
However, a doctor NBC15 spoke with at the center says Livestrong's risen above Armstrong, and he's confident people will separate the importance of beating cancer and the sport of cycling.
He says the center is considering taking down a yellow jersey of Armstrong's that they have hanging.
A manger at Budget Bicycles Center in Madison still stands behind Armstrong, saying, "I don't think it's fair that they're stripping him of what he's brought to the sport and degrading him. The guy's a hero to the sport. He may have lost his titles, but he's won. He beat cancer. However he had to do to get it, he's alive."
The World Anti-Doping code rules state his lifetime ban cannot be reduced to less than eight years, but WADA and the U.S. Anti-Doping officials could agree to reduce the ban further depending on Armstrong's cooperation.