Cyclist Rasmussen expected to confess to doping

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - Danish cyclist Michael Rasmussen is expected to confess that he used performance-enhancing drugs.

Rasmussen says he will hold a news conference Thursday at 8 a.m. EST.

Danish sports site sporten.dk says the 38-year-old Rasmussen will come clean about "extensive doping'' during his career.

Rasmussen led the 2007 Tour de France until he was kicked off for lying about his whereabouts when he missed pre-race doping tests.

He later admitted that he had lied and was banned from cycling for two years, but has so far insisted he didn't break any rules and never tested positive for any drugs.