Nike Drops Armstrong; IOC Waits on UCI; New Verbruggen Allegations

(ATR)Nike dropped Lance Armstrong from its roster of endorsements Wednesday.

The sportswear giant said its decision is due to "seemingly insurmountable evidence that Lance Armstrong participated in doping" and that he "misled Nike for more than a decade."

The New York Daily News, meanwhile, reports that Kathy LeMond, wife of U.S. cyclist Greg LeMond, testified in a 2006 deposition that Nike paid Hein Verbruggen, then president of the International Cycling Union, a sum of $500,000 to cover up positive drug tests from Armstrong.

Nike denies any wrongdoing, while Verbruggen – now SportAccord president – told Around the Rings last week "I am not giving any thoughts, no comment" on the Armstrong affair.

What will happen to Armstrong’s bronze medal from the 2000 Sydney Olympics also remains to be seen.

In an Associated Press report, IOC vice president and Juridical Commission chair Thomas Bach said the IOC would have to see how UCI proceeds and then review its statute of limitations on Armstrong before rendering a decision.

"The UCI will have to decide whether he should have been banned before the Sydney Games," he was quoted as saying.

Bach also noted the "intriguing approach" U.S. anti-doping authorities took in determining the guilt of Armstrong, adding: "What we would have to check is whether this would also work under Swiss law or whether we find a way to apply U.S. law."

The fate of Armstrong teammate Levi Leipheimer’s bronze in the time trial event from Beijing 2008 is yet another loose end. Bach said how UCI rules on his Games-time eligibility will determine if the IOC moves to strip him of his medal.

Leipheimer admitted to doping in testimony presented last week as part of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s "reasoned decision" against Armstrong.

Should the medals be re-awarded, Abraham Olano Manzano of Spain would receive Armstrong’s time trail bronze, while fellow Spaniard Alberto Contador, who tested positive for clenbutorol and lost his 2010 Tour de France title, would be the new Beijing bronze medalist.

One thing is for certain, however. Leipheimer will not ride again for the Omega Pharma-Quick Step cycling team after being fired Tuesday.

In a statement, the team said: "We commend the rider for his open co-operation with USADA and contribution to cleaning up the sport of cycling. However, in the light of the disclosures made by Mr Leipheimer in his public statement on 10th of October the team has decided to terminate the contract."

Cycling Australia also fired men’s road cycling coach Matthew White for "being implicated in doping practices" carried out by the U.S. Postal Service team under Armstrong’s direction.

Also Wednesday, Armstrong stepped down as chairman of his Livestrong charity, known for its ubiquitous yellow bracelets and its efforts to raise more than $500 million for cancer research over the past 15 years.

Written by Ed Hula III.

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