The athletic apparel company released a statement on its website announcing a split with the South African double-amputee known as the "Blade Runner," after he was charged with premeditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
"We believe Oscar Pistorius should be afforded due process and we will continue to monitor the situation closely," Nike said in the statement.
Pistorius had previously appeared in a series of Nike ads showing him running in his carbon-fiber prosthetic legs.
One ad showed the obstacles the young Pistorius overcame during his childhood leading up to his much publicized appearance in the 2012 London Olympics.
The eyeglass manufacturer Oakley also suspended a deal with the sprinter.
This isn't the first time Nike has had to deal with disgraced athletes representing their products. Nike terminated their contract with cyclist Lance Armstrong after he admitted to using PEDs earlier this year and was criticized for using golfer Tiger Woods after his marriage infidelities emerged.
No comments:
Post a Comment