Nike Inc. is ending its sponsorship deal with the Livestrong Foundation, the charitable organization founded by cyclist Lance Armstrong. The termination ends a nine-year relationship.
Nike said in a statement, “Nike has made the decision to stop producing new Livestrong product after its Holiday 2013 line. We will continue to support the Livestrong Foundation by funding them directly as they continue their work serving and improving outcomes for people facing cancer.”
We are proud of the collective efforts between Nike and the Livestrong Foundation to raise more than $100 million to help people with cancer, distributing 87 million Livestrong wristbands and serving and improving health outcomes for more than 2.5 million people with free cancer support services, programs, tools and resources.”
In a brief statement, the Livestrong Foundation said, “We expected and planned for changes like this and are therefore in a
good position to adjust swiftly and move forward with our
patient-focused work.”
Nike cut ties with Armstrong himself as an endorser in October after the U.S. antidoping agency stripped the cyclist of his Tour de France titles over the use of banned substances.Armstrong admitted to doping this year and stepped aside from the
charity, which he had founded after being diagnosed with testicular
cancer.
Livestrong products were particularly known for its yellow wrist bands but had expanded to apparel collections and fitness equipment.
