Nike stars disgraced by scandal

Sports

Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius is the latest star endorsed by Nike to be embroiled in scandal.

South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius, a double amputee who took part in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, is the latest Nike star making headlines for his off the field behavior. Pistorius is accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, on Feb. 14. Nike has featured Pistorius in a series of ad campaigns, the latest titled "I am the bullet in the chamber," which has been pulled from the company's website. The company has made no statements regarding its future relationship with Pistorius, only saying "Nike extends its deepest sympathy and condolences to all families concerned following this tragic incident."

Former Falcons quarterback Michael Vick remained a Nike athlete until his 2007 conviction for his role in running a dogfighting opertation. After serving 18 months in prison, Nike re-signed Vick, who now plays for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Days before being accused of sexual assault at a Colorado resort in 2003, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant had signed a five-year endorsement deal with Nike. The company did not use his image or market his shoes immediately after he was cleared of the allegations, but did start promoting Bryant once his image recovered two years later.

Nike chose to not renew its sponsorship of former American sprinter Marion Jones after she was among the athletes linked to Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO) scandal in 2005. Following that decision, Jones tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug. She spent six months in prison after admitting she lied to federal agents about her use of PEDs.

Several sponsors - including Accenture, AT&T, Gatorade and General Motors - broke ties with Tiger Woods when his extra-marital affairs became tabloid fodder in 2009. Nike did not waiver and continued to support the former No. 1 golfer, though it suspended his ads for a short period.

Nike severed ties with American sprinter Justin Gatlin over the "exceptional circumstances" surrounding his first positive drug test. Gatlin, who won gold in the 100 meters in the 2004 Olympics, avoided a lifetime ban from the sport in exchange for his cooperation with doping authorities.

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South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius, a double amputee who took part in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, is the latest Nike star making headlines for his off the field behavior. Pistorius is accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, on Feb. 14. Nike has featured Pistorius in a series of ad campaigns, the latest titled "I am the bullet in the chamber," which has been pulled from the company's website. The company has made no statements regarding its future relationship with Pistorius, only saying "Nike extends its deepest sympathy and condolences to all families concerned following this tragic incident."

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