Armstrong dropped by Nike

Nike have terminated their contract with Lance Armstrong due to the ‘seemingly insurmountable evidence’ that he participated in doping.

Armstrong is almost certain to be stripped of his seven Tour de France victories after the United States Anti-Doping Agency branded him a ‘serial cheat’ who led ‘the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen’.

The Texan has always denied taking banned substances during his career but he decided not to challenge the USADA charges against him, claiming he was no longer willing to put his family through the stress of fighting his case.

Nike had stood by Armstrong following the publication of USADA’s 1000-page document, but the sportswear giant believes it can no longer ignore the evidence against the American.

“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 said in a statement.

“Nike does not condone the use of illegal performance enhancing drugs in any manner.”

In a separate development, Armstrong has stepped down as chairman of the cancer charity he founded, Livestrong.

Armstrong founded the Lance Armstrong Foundation in 1997 after being diagnosed with testicular cancer and Livestrong was launched in 2003 to provide support to patients dealing with the disease.

“This organization, its mission and its supporters are incredibly dear to my heart,” he said.

“Today therefore, to spare the foundation any negative effects as a result of controversy surrounding my cycling career, I will conclude my chairmanship.

“As my cancer treatment was drawing to an end, I created a foundation to serve people affected by cancer.

“It has been a great privilege to help grow it from a dream into an organisation that today has served 2.5m people and helped spur a cultural shift in how the world views cancer survivors.”