Lance Armstrong chronology

HERE is a timeline of Lance Armstrong's career and doping allegations.

Lance Armstrong

TIMELINE of Lance Armstrong's career and doping allegations:

1992: Armstrong competes in Barcelona Olympics, turns pro.

1993: Wins world championship, USPRO championship and a stage in his first Tour de France.

1996: Enters year as world's top-ranked cyclist. In October, has surgery and chemotherapy to treat testicular cancer that has spread to lungs and brain.

1997: Forms charitable foundation to benefit cancer research, resumes training.

1998: Wins Tour de Luxembourg, Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt and Cascade Classic

1999: Wins first Tour de France title riding for US Postal Service team -- just the second American to win the Tour.

2000: Wins second Tour de France title. Publishes "It's Not About the Bike" about return from cancer.

2001: Wins third Tour de France title.

2002: Wins fourth Tour de France title.

2003: Wins fifth Tour de France title.

2004: Armstrong accused of doping in book written by David Walsh and Pierre Ballester. Wins sixth Tour de France title

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2005: Wins seventh Tour de France title and retires.
In August, French sports daily L'Equipe reports tests on urine samples allegedly taken from Armstrong during the 1999 Tour and frozen were positive for erythropoietin (EPO). Armstrong denies doping.

2006: Armstrong cleared of allegations stemming from a 1999 drug test. In July, Floyd Landis wins the Tour but is stripped of title after failing a drug test.

2008: Armstrong says he'll return to pro cycling.

2009: Breaks collarbone in first-stage crash of the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon in March. In April, French anti-doping agency says Armstrong failed to co-operate with drug-tester. Finishes third in the Tour de France.

2010: Landis admits he doped when riding with USPS team and accuses teammates including Armstrong of doping. Armstrong denies the allegations.

2011: January Sports Illustrated article quotes Armstrong's 1995 teammate Stephen Swart as saying Armstrong was "the instigator" of EPO use by some team members. Armstrong lawyer denies allegation.
After competing in Australia's Tour Down Under, Armstrong again retires.
In May, former teammate Tyler Hamilton tells CBS News that he and Armstrong took EPO during the 1999, 2000 and 2001 Tours de France.

2012: In February, US prosecutors drop criminal probe into Armstrong and other cyclists without bringing charges.
On June 29, US Anti-Doping Agency officially charges Armstrong with doping and trafficking of drugs, suspends him from competing.
July - Armstrong files lawsuit in federal court in Texas against USADA.
August 20 - federal judge dismisses Armstrong's lawsuit.
August 23 - Armstrong says he won't take case to arbitration. USADA chief Travis Tygart says Armstrong will be stripped of all of results dating back to August 1, 1998 and banned from cycling for life.
October 10 - The USADA submits its report to the International Cycling Union, unveiling evidence collected in probe of Armstrong and the USPS team.
October 17 - Embattled Armstrong steps down as chairman of cancer charity Livestrong as sponsors Nike, Trek, Anheuser-Busch and others dump endorsement deals with him.
October 22 - World cycling's governing body confirm USADA ban. Stripped of seven Tour de France victories and other career wins.
November 4 - Cuts official ties with the Livestrong Foundation - the chairty he founded for 15 years.

Lance Armstrong

2013: January 4 - Reports Armstrong is considering admitting to doping.
January 8 - Announcement that Armstrong will be interviewed by television megastar Oprah Winfrey - which will be recorded and then screened on January 17. Speculation is rife the disgraced cyclist will make a confession during the interview, to be filmed in his hometown of Austin, Texas.
January 14 - On the way to his interview with Oprah Armstrong visits the Livestrong headquarters and reportedly "choked up" during an apology to staff members.
January 14 - Armstrong is interviewed by Oprah. He reportedly admits to using performance-enhancing drugs to help him win the seven Tour de France titles which were later stripped of him.