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

Seoige wrote:

The sport of cycling will endure way beyond LA. There are the Greg Le Mond of this world that we can be proud of and if they take decisive action now, the sport will blip on the radar and move forward. I don’t believe for one minute Nike paid 500k to UCI for a cover up. I reckon they simply made a payment, if any , simply to sponsor the sport. As for Trek who make good bikes they have drunken from the poison chalice and inexhonorably linked. Where Nike is a Global brand and more generic, Trek on the other hand is more specific. Their PR department will have to do a lot better then simply following the herd from this outfall. If one owned a trek bike at a cycling club you would have to snigger. You could not resist the tempatation and joke, 'I hope you are not on EPO today'. If they do not get ahead of this like a huge advertising promotion with clean well known cyclists, I fear they are doomed for failure. Right now I would not buy a Trek bike if my life depended on it. I would go as far as having to say that they would have to sue and give the proceeds to youth cycle groups to curry any favour with me. I do not want my kids growing up thinking that if they wanted to be competitive or venture into the world of cycling that they would have to inject themselves with epo or any other damn drug. The physical nature of the sport is demanding enough without condoning drug use in a clandestine fashion. Cycling promotes healthy living not the converse. First time I stepped out on a bike a year ago after 5km wobbly knees….a year later 100km not a bother. And starting to go to tours, I may not be Lemond but have a go. I have never seen a more helpful team effort then amongst cyclists. Now the whole family participate and they love it right down to the 5 year old.

As for the Live Rong foundation I wouldn’t give a penny farthing to them if I was dying from cancer. Just cause he stepped down does not mean he is not taking a salary. Does anyone actually know where the money goes from this foundation. They have a good pr campaign collecting it but as for distributing it.

I could envision LA threatening Trek and poor little Emma by making here out to be a harlot just to hide the truth.. What he did not bank on whas the resilience of Tygart and the USADA and the fact that we cyclists are in our tens of millions, engineers, lawyers, doctors, factory workers, unemployed. We all have a voice and it is our money that makes this world go round. What! Is he going to sue us all because we have an opinion. The reasoned decision by Tygart and the USADA was in fact reasoned. If I was empanelled on a jury I would vote guilty because the evidence is overwhelming. Like most I had my reservations and I gun for the underdog but I will readily accept I was wrong. Tygart did not simply launch an Exocet missile he launched a nuclear strike.

I like Pat McQuaid I think he is an eloquent speaker but for one moment to believe for he was not complicit in the whole debacle not a chance! And I also kissed the blarney stone. As for Verbruggen he should be in an old peoples home. He is so beligerant. Effective change will happen by getting rid of the old guard. Personally I would go for Greg LeMond as UCI president and cut a deal. In one foul swoop they will achieve credibility. And double the resources of WADA

I see no reason why we can not come out on the bright side of this whole affair. We take effective action now, we secure our children’s future.

As for LA he is proven to be a liar, bully and a cheat. I will have nothing to do with him or his sponsers.

LeMond for UCI president!? I like that idea!!!

You are probably right oldnslo, that makes a lot of sense to me. On a lighter note check out twitter #newliggettisms. These guys are so cool. It is the funny side of life.

Simon_MacMichael wrote:

I think Nike's use of the word "misled" is very interesting. Breach of contract?

Was wondering what the termination clause(s) in the contract was like? after Nike had said that they would continue with Armstrong only a week ago.

Just out of interest how many sporting goods companies make donations to anti doping organisations. I'm assuming that these organisations are not for profit?

Ciaran Patrick wrote:

What I find sad for the sports is that there seems to be no end to this. The whole saga is brought down to basic levels. The UCI never seem to want to get it right and many have said above there is a need for a radical new leader. A positive revolution if you want.

The other problem that disturbs me is the actions of doping bodies like the USADA - They have there own agenda that is not related to the good of the sport and justice. For cyclist to get 6 months suspension and then continue riding and no prison term and conviction for past misdemenours when riders caught today get 2 year bans.

I can't get my head around the idea that to go after one man and define that one man as the absolute centre and manager of every single drug taking and attitude. It was going on before LA and unfortunately after LA.

The system is not transparent and you can't trust what you see. Take Contador for example or the avoidance of Valverde for 2 years. If I hear that someone has been caught doping I do now query this. The whole system is suspect and needs revolution so it is transparent and fair for all. Every party has a vested interest that is separate from the good of the sport.

On another note its a shame with regards LA and Livestrong cancer charity which he did so much for so many. So much good has come out of these charities but to achieve it through doping makes for an oxymoron in my feelings regarding this. Well we will still support the livestrong brand for what it stands for in our business regardless of what LA did.

You're spot on Ciaran - USADA's actions disturb me too!

They caught the cheat and told the world about what he's done. Outrageous - so not good for justice or the sport...

What, in the name of hell, are you talking about??

there are two facets to your argument:

USADA writes "serial cheat" and a bully who enforced "the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen".

Evidence shows he was material in orchestrating the drug culture amongst cyclists to obtain an unfair advantage...an Architect if you will.

Dick Pound from WADA says

There was certainly generalised knowledge that there had been some payments from Armstrong to the UCI. It's hard to think of the UCI as a charity and Lance somebody filled with [charitable] spirit."

website Live rong reports a part income 245 mill of 400 mill with associated admin. costs on the 245 of 19%.46.5 Million dollars. Given Dick Pounds statement, I wonder how much LA is getting as chairman? That is not to negate the fact that 81% goes to good causes and that any charity has overheads. But I curious where the other 46.5 mill goes and why they skirted over the other 155 mill?(They mention 400 mill). How much of this money is in fact self preservation and the other charitable spirit?
http://blog.livestrong.org/2011/05/02/where-the-money-goes/

Not as complicated as you imagine they are all there. If you read the USADA report entirely, lord knows its comprehensive, The insurance company SCA will look for their 12 mill.back for insured bonuses. Particulary given they lost the last court case. They suspected him all along but their contractual clause is explicit. If he is stripped of the titles they are entitled to their money back. The Sunday times will also go for thier one mill. in the libel case. TdF will also want their 7 million in earnings back.

It is a sad day for the sport and those sponsors who acted in good faith Nike was a little retiscent at first but as they pointed out, we tolerate a little bad behaviour off the field but not on the field of play.

Trek a misnomer because they are inextricably linked and will need a good spin doctor from this fallout. Whether they like it or not they will have to pay some form of penance for sponsoring LA.I mean who would want to buy a Trek bike now.

Ok! we will all be a bit disillusioned by these revelations but better for it. Cycling in my mind is growing exponentially. Get rid of the old guard at UCI, need new blood like LeMond and deal with the drug culture head on rather then leaving it to fester for another 15 years .