On Wednesday morning, hours after Armstrong announced he would step down as chairman of the Livestrong Foundation he created to support people affected with cancer, Nike announced it was severing ties with the embattled cyclist.
“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,” the company statement said. “Nike does not condone the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs in any manner.” The firm also will rename the Lance Armstrong Fitness Center at its Beaverton, Ore., headquarters, a Nike spokesman confirmed.But this won’t be the end of Livestrong. Nike said it would continue to support Livestrong initiatives, which include footwear, apparel and accessories branded with the Livestrong name. Finish Line, a major retail partner of the collection, said in a statement to FN that it anticipates continued demand for the products.“Finish Line continues to support the Livestrong Foundation and its commitment to the fight against cancer,” the statement said. “We are committed to providing products our customers want and expect from us. The current demand for Livestrong product remains high, and we will continue to deliver against the expectations of our customers.”
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