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Updated: Nike and Trek end Lance Armstrong contracts, disgraced cyclist steps down as Livestrong chairman

Disgraced former cyclist will stay on board of charity he founded in 1997

A number of companies that sponsored Lance Armstrong have moved to distance themselves from him today. The most prominent are sportswear giant Nike, which announced that it has ended its association with him due to "seemingly insurmountable evidence" that he doped during his career and "misled" the company "for more than a decade," and Trek Bicycles, whose recent history is inextricably linked with Armstrong's now-nullified Tour wins.

The news came shortly after Armstrong himself said he is stepping down as chairman of Livestrong, the charity also known as the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which he founded after in 1997 after surviving cancer.

Electronics retailer RadioShack has confirmed it has no current sponsorship deals with Armstrong, without confirming when the last one finished, and said it has ended his relationship with him, and Anheuser-Busch, which owns the Michelob Ultra brand of beer he endorses, has said it will not be renewing his current three-year deal when it expires at the end of the year. 

According to the Wall Street Journal, Easton Bell, owner of Giro whose helmets Armstrong uses and endorses, has also dropped him today, although like Nike, it will continue its asociation with Livestrong. Eyewear firm Oakley is said to be reviewing the situation.

According to research cited by the Wall Street Journal, Armstrong's pulling power as a celebrity spokesman - and consumers' trust in him - has plummeted in recent years. Quoting data from a specialist firm that tracks that data through consumer surveys, it says he was ranked 60th in June 2008 but had fallen to 1,410th by September 2012.

That was after USADA said it was banning him for life, but it's the subsequent publication of its reasoned decision, and the detailed evidence it contains, that appears to have irreperably damaged the Armstrong brand.

In a statement published on its website, Nike said: "Due to the seemingly insurmountable evidence that Lance Armstrong participated in doping and misled Nike for more than a decade, it is with great sadness that we have terminated our contract with him. Nike does not condone the use of illegal performance enhancing drugs in any manner.

It added: "Nike plans to continue support of the Livestrong initiatives created to unite, inspire and empower people affected by cancer."

Nike, which yesterday was awarded the high-profile contract to supply the International Olympic Committee until 2016, replacing its bitter rival Adidas, has come under pressure over the past week to affirmin its commitment to clean sport by distancing itself from Armstrong following publication by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) of its Reasoned Decision against the man who won the Tour de France seven times.

A number of media outlets reported testimony yeterday from Greg Lemond's wife Kathy given during a deposition in the SCA Promotions case in 2006 that Nike had paid former UCI President Hein Verbruggen $500,000 to cover up a positive test by Armstrong in 1999, a payment she said she had heard about from his former mechanic.

Nike strongly refuted the claim that any such payment had ever been made, saying in a statement yesterday: "Nike vehemently denies that it paid former UCI president Hein Verbruggen $500,000 to cover up a positive drug test. Nike does not condone the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs.”

Yesterday also saw a protest outside Nike's headquarters in Oregon led by former pro cyclist Paul Willerton, who raced alongside Armstrong for the US national team in the 1992 world championships, the year before Armstrong won the rainbow jersey in Oslo.

Willerton, who left the sport due to his disillusionment with doping, joined fellow protestors in urging Nike to reconsider its decision to stand by Armstrond despite the evidence published by USADA.

Another major sponsor of Armstrong, Trek, said in a release today, “Trek is disappointed by the findings and conclusions in the USADA report regarding Lance Armstrong. Given the determinations of the report, Trek today is terminating our longterm relationship with Lance Armstrong. Trek will continue to support the Livestrong Foundation and its efforts to combat cancer.” Armstrong is believed to be a Trek shareholder, and many believe that it was pressure from the Texan that led in part to Trek dropping the Lemond brand; indeed, Betsy Andreu's affidavit recalls a conversation with Armstrong: “Lance said: ‘I’m going to make one call to John Burke and fucking shut him up.’ I asked who John Burke was and was told he owned Trek, the bike company that sponsored Lance as well as made Greg LeMond’s bikes.”

Oakley is another company associated with Armstrong  that has faced calls to clarify its position.

Regarding Armstrong's decision to step down from his role with his charity, according to a statement from him obtained by Associated Press, he made his decision so that the charity can focus on its work with cancer victims, rather than it being overshadowed by the continuing fallout from the United State Anti Doping Agency's investigation which resulted in him being banned for sport for life.

"This organization, its mission and its supporters are incredibly dear to my heart," said Armstrong in his statement, quoted in the New York Post. "Today therefore, to spare the foundation any negative effects as a result of controversy surrounding my cycling career, I will conclude my chairmanship."

According to spokeswoman Katherine McLane, vice-chairman Jeff Garvey, who was chairman of the charity when it was founded 15 years ago this week, will take over responsibility for the organisation's strategic planning. Armstrong will remain on the Livestrong board.  

LIvestrong's 15th aniversary is due to be celebrated by a series of events in the coming days in Armstong's home city of Austin, Texas, including a gala event on Friday evening that is scheduled to include appearances by long-time supporters Robin Williams and Ben Stiller.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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45 comments

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stealth | 11 years ago
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I honestly thought that the depths had been reached after 'The Festina Affair', Operation Puerto & Rasmussen/Vinokourov, but this reaches new levels. Its a cynical disgrace that appears to transcend into the governing body of the sport. Nobody should be above the rules. It just makes you wonder who will be next...

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WolfieSmith | 11 years ago
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I look forward to Pat and Hein explaining the latest. After Festina in 1998 when the French Police had had enough and with the introduction of the EPO test in 2000 the UCI should have sat down with the bully from Austin - called him and Nike out and finished the mess. It seems they rolled over for cash instead.

I was relieved about Arnstrong and now doubly relieved - as the UCI has to be eviserated and rebuilt. We've been watching years of doping partly so that Pat and Hein could line their pockets. I can't think of terms to describe how I feel about the sport being treated like that and us taken for mugs.

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Sudor | 11 years ago
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Lets hope Trek and the others do the same in quick order - it's only taken Nike 8 years to recognise the obvious.

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gbzpto replied to Sudor | 11 years ago
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Sudor wrote:

Lets hope Trek and the others do the same in quick order - it's only taken Nike 8 years to recognise the obvious.

It can only be a matter of time! Trek growth was partly because of Armstrong. Trek will not want to be associated with a doper for much longer surely!

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georgee | 11 years ago
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Brilliant, the $500,000 claims pushed them over the edge, though I suspect there was some truth behind Mrs Lemondes comments.

There’s a Texas tale of hard-ball politics that dates to one of Lyndon Johnson’s first campaigns. Lyndon was the underdog against a well-liked and respectable incumbent who was the odds-on favorite to win (there were no polls in those days). At a strategy session Johnson instructed his staff to spread the rumor that the opponent had a proclivity for sex with animals, pigs in particular. “My God, we can’t say that,” protested a staffer, “it couldn’t possibly be true!” “I know,” said Lyndon, “but let’s make him deny it.

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steampie | 11 years ago
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What PR-driven rubbish. LA is still on the board of Livestrong, he will continue to earn money from their for-profit arm livestrong.com, he will continue (as he has for years) to get paid for each appearance he makes for Livestrong, he will continue to get his share of the revenue of all of the yellow Livestrong apparel that Nike will continue to sell. Nothing's changed for him other than at least some of his legions of deniers actually facing up to the harsh truth about his sustained campaign of lying, bullying, intimidating, etc.

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russyparkin replied to steampie | 11 years ago
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steampie wrote:

What PR-driven rubbish. LA is still on the board of Livestrong, he will continue to earn money from their for-profit arm livestrong.com, he will continue (as he has for years) to get paid for each appearance he makes for Livestrong, he will continue to get his share of the revenue of all of the yellow Livestrong apparel that Nike will continue to sell. Nothing's changed for him other than at least some of his legions of deniers actually facing up to the harsh truth about his sustained campaign of lying, bullying, intimidating, etc.

im trying to but I dont think I could word this any better.

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Low Speed Wobble | 11 years ago
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Trek next? One wonders what, if anything, will be left of Armstrong once this story rolls out to its conclusion. Even now I would suggest it is not too late for him to come clean. Does he subscribe to road.cc?

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Karbon Kev | 11 years ago
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it is a shambles, on someone who many looked up to as a hero of the sport, the sheer arrogance of the cheat and those involved around him. Sad day all in all ....

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andyp | 11 years ago
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'The whole shambles is incredibly sad for cycling, which is the big loser in all this.'

er...it is a truly fantastic thing for cycling. It's an epic WIN, as the kids say.

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theclaw replied to andyp | 11 years ago
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andyp wrote:

'The whole shambles is incredibly sad for cycling, which is the big loser in all this.'

er...it is a truly fantastic thing for cycling. It's an epic WIN, as the kids say.

You mis-read the comment. "The whole shambles" includes and refers to L.A's activity in the sport over the last 20 years.

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theclaw | 11 years ago
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L.A will end up like Charley Mottet in my opinion. The whole shambles is incredibly sad for cycling, which is the big loser in all this. Just as important as outing L.A is now getting rid of McQuaid and Verbruggen from the UCI, whose tyrannical stewardship of cycling is nothing but disgraceful. Those two old men disgust me, they are the Jimmy Saville's of cycling, pretending to help the cause whilst simultaneously fiddling, abusing, persecuting, and rodgering behind closed doors those that they claim to help.

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ventoux3 replied to theclaw | 11 years ago
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theclaw wrote:

L.A will end up like Charley Mottet in my opinion. The whole shambles is incredibly sad for cycling, which is the big loser in all this. Just as important as outing L.A is now getting rid of McQuaid and Verbruggen from the UCI, whose tyrannical stewardship of cycling is nothing but disgraceful. Those two old men disgust me, they are the Jimmy Saville's of cycling, pretending to help the cause whilst simultaneously fiddling, abusing, persecuting, and rodgering behind closed doors those that they claim to help.

Can you clarify this. How will L.A end up like Charly Mottet who is generally ackowledged to have ridden clean throughout his career and continues to be weel respected? Or have I missed something?

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arrieredupeleton | 11 years ago
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Nike have now folded....I think Larry is currently ringing 90 minutes to agree the fee for the exclusive 'confession' interview. He'd be the victim, clearly.

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Sadly Biggins | 11 years ago
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Nike have apparently just terminated his sponsorship too. Not looking good for him.

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