A week after the USADA released a report confirming that Lance Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs to win seven Tour de France title, Armstrong announced today he will be stepping down as chairman from his Livestrong Foundation and Nike ended their contract with the former athlete.
USADA released 1,000 pages of evidence last week, including a 202-page summary detailing why the anti-doping agency stripped Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles this summer and barred him from competition for the rest of his life.
"The evidence is overwhelming that Lance Armstrong did not just use performance-enhancing drugs, he supplied them to his teammates," USADA says of the embattled cyclist and cancer survivor.
Now Armstrong is stepping down from Livestrong, the organization he founded in 1997 after he survived testicular cancer and it sold millions of yellow Livestrong wristbands and went on to partner with Nike to sell millions of dollars of Livestrong gear.
"I have had the great honor of serving as this foundation's chairman for the last five years and its mission and success are my top priorities," Armstrong said in a statement.
"Today therefore, to spare the foundation any negative effects as a result of controversy surrounding my cycling career, I will conclude my chairmanship."
The organization said in a statement that Jeff Garvey, the vice chairman of the organization, will become chairman, while Armstrong will remain on the foundation's board.
Meanwhile, Nike is also terminating its relations with Armstrong. In a statement on Wednesday morning, Nike said the evidence that Armstrong had doped was so undeniable that it could no longer partner with him.
"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 statement said. "Nike does not condone the use of illegal performance enhancing drugs in any manner. Nike plans to continue support of the Livestrong initiatives created to unite, inspire and empower people affected by cancer."
However, Nike has come under scrutiny for its relationship with Armstrong. One of the people that have accused Armstrong of doping is Kathy LeMond, the wife of American cyclist Greg LeMond. She testified under oath during a 2006 deposition that Nike paid former UCI president Hein Verbruggen $500,000 to cover up a positive drug test.
"Nike vehemently denies that it paid former UCI president Hein Verbruggen $500,000 to cover up a positive drug test," the company said in a statement. "Nike does not condone the use of illegal performance enhancing drugs."
