Armstrong steps down from charity

Cyclist steps down from Livestrong
cancer charity and Nike ends his
contract over doping allegations.
Lance Armstrong is stepping down as
chairman of his Livestrong cancer
charity, according to reports, in order
to distance the organisation from the
doping scandal that has cost him his
seven Tour de France cycling titles and
one of his corporate sponsors, Nike.
"To spare the [Livestrong] foundation
any negative effects as a result of
controversy surrounding my cycling
career, I will conclude my
charimanship."
He will continue to serve on the
board.
One of Armstrong's long-time
corporate sponsors, Nike, also
announced on Wednesday that it had
terminated its contract with the cyclist,
following evidence that he
participated in an elaborate doping
programme.
"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. Nike plans to continue
support of the Livestrong initiatives
created to unite, inspire and empower
people affected by cancer."
Armstrong had been an inspirational
figure for millions after recovering
from testicular cancer that had spread
to his brain and lungs and then
winning the world's most celebrated
cycling event seven times in a row.
But the US Anti-Doping Agency
(USADA) banned Armstrong and took
away his titles in August after he
chose not to fight the doping
accusations, claims USADA outlined in
a report unveiled last week.
The USADA released a report saying
the cycling legend's team ran "the
most sophisticated, professionalised
and successful doping programme
the sport has ever seen".
The report which came out on
Wednesday had 11 of Armstrong's
former teammates testifying against
him in its investigation of the cyclist.
USADA delivered its reasoned decision
against Armstrong with a summary of
the facts it used to hand him a
lifetime suspension and erase his
seven Tour de France titles.
He has always denied doping
allegations but had not contested
USADA's charges.