Nike ends contract with Lance Armstrong

NEW YORK - Nike is severing ties with famed cyclist Lance Armstrong, citing insurmountable evidence that he participated in doping and misled the company for more than a decade.

The clothing and footwear company said Wednesday that it was ending Armstrong's contract "with great sadness."

Nike Inc. said it will continue to support the initiatives of Livestrong, a cancer non-profit organization founded by Armstrong.

Also, Armstrong is stepping down as chairman of Livestrong so it can focus on its mission instead of its founder's problems.

Armstrong's announcement came minutes before Nike's.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency released a massive report last week detailing allegations of widespread doping by Armstrong and his teams when he won the Tour de France seven consecutive times from 1999 to 2005.