Nike Stock
Swinand, 45, was a semiprofessional cyclist in France in 1989-90. He said he owns no Nike shares and currently rates the stock at three-stars, a rough equivalent to a "hold."
An e-mail to Tim Herman, Armstrong's attorney, seeking comment about the French cycling federation's plans, SCA and Armstrong's endorsement deals wasn't immediately returned.
Among Armstrong's other former sponsors, Nike spokeswoman Mary Remuzzi, RadioShack Corp. spokesman Eric Bruner and Mark Riedy, a spokesman for Easton Bell Sports which makes Giro helmets and gloves, said their companies had nothing further to add to previous statements ending relationships with Armstrong.
Phillip Cleveland, a spokesman for Anheuser-Busch InBev NV's Michelob Ultra beer; Eric Bjorling, a spokesman for Trek Bicycle Corp.; Carli LaForgia, a spokeswoman for FRS Co.; David Zimberoff, a spokesman for Sram International Corp.; and Len Zanni, marketing director of Honey Stinger, didn't respond to phone calls and e-mails seeking comment.
USADA Report
USADA released a 202-page summary of its investigation of Armstrong on Oct. 10, saying his cycling career was "fueled from start to finish by doping." Nike became the first sponsor to cut ties with Armstrong on Oct. 17, shortly after he stepped down as Livestrong's chairman, and the International Cycling Union said two days ago that it would not appeal USADA's findings.
Armstrong would have a difficult time seeking payment from the companies because of the breadth of the USADA evidence and because most endorsement deals have moral turpitude clauses that free sponsors if athletes break the law or negatively affect the sponsor's public image, according to Daniel Lazaroff, director of the Sports Law Institute at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.
"Companies will want to get out of these high-paying contracts if the asset has lost its value," Lazaroff said in a telephone interview.
Lazaroff said he'd be surprised if Nike tried to get its money back from Armstrong "after all, he provided value for them."