By: Tomica Kipp
Lance Armstrong
founder and Chairman of LIVESTRONG stepped down from the cancer non-profit organization
that he started and awaits a decision from the International Cycling Union,
which is responsible for enforcing the anti-doping rules.
“In 1996, 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 organization that today had served 2.5 million people and helped spur a
cultural shift in how the world views cancer survivors,” Armstrong said. “This organization, its mission and its
supporters are incredibly dear to my heart.
The United States
Anti-Doping Agency has release a report detailing performance-enhancing use by
the seven-time Tour de France winner. The USADA has ordered that he should be
banned from cycling for life and stripped of his Tour de France victories.
Since the USADA
case against Armstrong, he has lost several major sponsors including Nike. In
statement Nike said, “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.”
However, Nike plans to continue their support
for the LIVESTRONG foundation, “Nike does not condone the use of illegal
performance enhancing drugs in any manner. Nike plans to continue to support
the LIVESTRONG initiatives created to unite, inspire and empower people
affected by cancer.”
Armstrong has
always maintained that he has never used performance enhancing drugs. The International
Cycling Union is schedule to make a decision later today.
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