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Nike ends Livestrong Foundation partnership | Nike ends Livestrong Foundation partnership |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Sportswear giant Nike is ceasing to make products for the Livestrong Foundation, the cancer charity founded by disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong. | Sportswear giant Nike is ceasing to make products for the Livestrong Foundation, the cancer charity founded by disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong. |
But Livestrong's largest corporate backer said it would continue funding the charity directly after this year. | But Livestrong's largest corporate backer said it would continue funding the charity directly after this year. |
The foundation said it expected the move after Armstrong admitted using performance-enhancing drugs. | The foundation said it expected the move after Armstrong admitted using performance-enhancing drugs. |
Last year, Armstrong stepped away from the foundation he created in 1997 after his diagnosis with testicular cancer. | |
"We are proud of the collective efforts between Nike and the Livestrong Foundation to raise more than $100m (£66m) to help people with cancer," Nike said in a statement, adding its "Holiday 2013" line of Livestrong products would be its last. | "We are proud of the collective efforts between Nike and the Livestrong Foundation to raise more than $100m (£66m) to help people with cancer," Nike said in a statement, adding its "Holiday 2013" line of Livestrong products would be its last. |
Nike added that it helped distribute 87 million signature yellow wristbands and improve health outcomes for more than 2.5 million people suffering from cancer. | Nike added that it helped distribute 87 million signature yellow wristbands and improve health outcomes for more than 2.5 million people suffering from cancer. |
Livestrong spokeswoman Katherine McLane said the charity had expected the change. | Livestrong spokeswoman Katherine McLane said the charity had expected the change. |
"Could there be fallout? Of course," she told reporters. "We remain enormously confident. We are in strong fiscal shape." | "Could there be fallout? Of course," she told reporters. "We remain enormously confident. We are in strong fiscal shape." |
In a statement, the foundation said it was grateful for Nike's nine years of support. | In a statement, the foundation said it was grateful for Nike's nine years of support. |
In January, Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France winner, admitted after years of denial that he had taken performance-enhancing drugs. | In January, Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France winner, admitted after years of denial that he had taken performance-enhancing drugs. |
He told US television personality Oprah Winfrey that stepping down as Livestrong's chairman was his "most humbling moment". | He told US television personality Oprah Winfrey that stepping down as Livestrong's chairman was his "most humbling moment". |
Nike ended its personal sponsorship of Armstrong in October, amid allegations he had used the drugs and encouraged his team-mates to participate in a doping programme. | Nike ended its personal sponsorship of Armstrong in October, amid allegations he had used the drugs and encouraged his team-mates to participate in a doping programme. |