Armstrong made a 25,000 US dollars donation in 2002, and then another for 100,000 US dollars several years later, the UCI confirmed. During his TV interview with Oprah Winfrey, when asked why he made a donation to the UCI, Armstrong said: “Because they asked me to. It was not in exchange for any cover-up. There are things which were a little shady. That was not one.”

Cookson said: “Previously it was accepted that he had offered a donation but now he has put it that he was asked for a donation. That's potentially quite an important difference.

I want to know what the actual circumstances were and what other people in seniority have to say about that. He did say no bribes were paid to cover up any tests, so I was pleased to hear that.”