Report: Nike Tried Paying UCI $500,000 to Cover Up a Lance Armstrong Positive Drug Test

by John Beattie on Wed, Oct 17, 2012 at 10:06AM

Nike and Lance Armstrong are breaking up.

But not without a little controversy, as churned up by the New York Daily News. According to a Daily News report, "Nike may have been complicit in Armstrong's doping scheme."

Kathy LeMond, the wife of American cyclist and Tour de France winner Greg LeMond, testified under oath in a 2006 lawsuit. During the deposition, Kathy testified that Nike "paid former International cycling Union president Hein Verbruggen $500,000 to cover up a 1999 Armstrong positive drug test," according to the report.

On Tuesday, Nike released the following statement to the Daily News:

"Nike vehemently denies that it paid former UCI president Hein Verbruggen $500,000 to cover up a positive drug test.

"Nike plans to continue support of the Livestrong initiatives created to unite, inspire and empower people affected by cancer," the statement added.