Athletic shoe marketer Nike is running, not walking away from endorsement deals with two controversial sports figures involved in alleged doping scandals. Late last week, the company announced it was
suspending its agreement with Olympic sprint champion Justin Gatlin until further notice and also terminating its relationship with Gatlin's controversial coach, Trevor Graham. The move was unusual
for the Oregon-based marketer, which traditionally maintains its relationships with sponsored athletes or coaches even when they have been implicated in controversial activities. However, a Nike
spokesman acknowledged that Gatlin won't, for now, receive further payments from Nike. No comment on whether the company would renew or review Gatlin's deal. "We don't disclose the details of our
contract or the termination of our contracts," said spokesman Derek Kent. Kent declined to say why Mr. Graham's contract was terminated or why Gatlin's deal was suspended. Gatlin, who won a gold medal
in the 100 meters at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, tested positive for a prohibited anabolic agent at the Kansas Relays on April 22, according to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Graham, meanwhile, hasn't
been formally accused of misconduct by the anti-doping agency, but several athletes who have trained with him have been implicated in doping offenses.
advertisement
advertisement
Read the whole story at The Wall Street Journal (by subscription) »
