Lance Armstrong is refused amnesty for testifying about his history of doping

Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong has admitted he is willing to give "100% transparency and honesty" in assisting with any future inquiries into drug cheating (GETTY IMAGES)

Lance Armstrong will not be granted an amnesty in return for testifying to an independent commission about his history of doping, but his lifetime ban could be reduced to eight years, according to Brian Cookson, president of cycling's governing body UCI.

However, that may not be enough for Armstrong, who was stripped of his seven Tour de France wins and is looking for an amnesty or reduction to a six-year ban to allow him to compete in triathlon. But Cookson said it was unlikely the US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) would agree to Armstrong's demands.

"I don't think he would have a reduction to anything like as little as six years," said Cookson. "If you look at the current rules, an eight-year ban might be something they [Usada] would look at, and I don't think the UCI would oppose that." Cookson added: "I don't think he would ever be given his Tour de France victories back, any of them."

PA