American sportswear giant Nike have reiterated their unwavering support for disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong following yesterday's announcements.

Despite such crushing allegations and a compelling case teeming with evidence, Nike's marketing team were clearly prepared for such a scandal. Armstrong's Livestrong charity work has been hugely successful with Nike's backing, with nearly 100 Livestrong-branded items available for purchase on Nike.com. In the past 15 years, the Lance Armstrong Foundation has raised $480 million.

"Lance has stated his innocence and has been unwavering on this position. Nike plans to continue to support Lance and the Lance Armstrong Foundation, a foundation that Lance created to serve cancer survivors," Nike said in a prepared statement.


“We are saddened that Lance Armstrong may no longer be able to participate in certain competitions and his titles appear to be impacted.”

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USDA) charged Armstrong with six offences yesterday including the usage of banned substances, the administration and "enforcement"of drugs to team-mates as well as facilitating a major cover-up between 1998 and 2005.

The 41-year old American is now banned for life and has been stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.

USADA CEO Travis Tygart called the drug use by Armstrong's team "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen."