Lance Armstrong insisted his generation of cyclists were not the only one to be tainted with drug use, while roundly criticizing UCI chairman Pat McQuaid.
Armstrong has seen his stock fall considerably ever since confessing to using performance enhancing drugs during all seven Tour De France wins from 1999-2005.
In his first interview following that revelation in a show with Oprah Winfrey, Armstrong reiterated there was a culture of doping in every generation.
"My generation was no different than any other," Armstong told Cyclingnews. "The 'help' has evolved over the years but the fact remains that our sport is damn hard, the Tour was invented as a stunt, and very tough competitors have competed for a century and all looked for advantages.
"From hopping on trains 100 years ago to EPO now. No generation was exempt or 'clean.' (Not that of) Merckx, not Hinault, not LeMond, not Coppi, not Gimondi, not Indurain, not Anquetil, not Bartali, and not mine."
None of the above mentioned riders were ever implicated in doping scandals, and Armstrong, who destroyed people's careers and livelihoods for speaking against him during his halcyon days, said he was being unfairly targeted.
"As much as I'm the eye of the storm this is not about one man, one team, one director," he added. "This is about cycling and, to be frank, it's about all endurance sports. Publicly lynching one man and his team will not solve this problem.
"When I was on speaking terms with ol' Pat McQuaid many, many months ago I said: 'Pat, you better think bold here. A full blown, global, TRC (truth and reconciliation program) is our sport's best solution.' He wanted to hear nothing of it.
"It's not my place to set the parameters but I'd say that if you are alive today and you podiumed in a GT, WC, or Grand Tour then you should be called. Sounds ambitious but the authorities have proven that nothing with regards to cycling is time-barred.
"The UCI has no place at the table. Pat is just in constant CYA (Cover Your Ass) mode. Pathetic.
"What is relevant is that everyone is treated equally and fairly. We all made the mess, let's all fix the mess, and let's all be punished equally.
"When I met with (United States Anti-Doping Agency head Travis Tygart) I told him: 'Yes, of course, I'd love to compete again. I'm a competitor.' However, the truth is that it is more about equality and fairness.
"Letting some race the season then giving minor off-season sanctions versus the death penalty (for similar offences) isn't fair and isn't about 'cleaning up cycling.' It's about getting your man."
