Despite today’s news that Lance Armstrong has resigned as chairman of Livestrong, Johnson Health Tech (JHT), Cottage Grove, WI, announced it will continue to support the foundation.
JHT has two Livestrong-branded commercial indoor cycles that it distributes globally and more than 12 Livestrong-branded consumer products in the United States, according to the company.
“For the past four years, Johnson Health Tech has partnered with the Lance Armstrong Foundation (Livestrong) in its mission of helping to improve the lives of people affected by cancer,” the company said in a statement. “With each purchase from our Livestrong line of fitness equipment, a donation is made to the foundation to help support important programming and support services. Johnson Health Tech plans to continue its support of Livestrong and its mission to unite, inspire and empower people affected by cancer. We support the foundation and the great work it does helping families throughout the world overcome cancer’s financial, practical and emotional challenges.”
JHT made a similar statement in August after Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and was banned from professional cycling. At the time, JHT declined to disclose to Club Industry the percentage of total business comprised by its Livestrong products.
Armstrong’s resignation from Livestrong coincides with news that Nike has terminated its endorsement contract with him. The company also will change the name of the Lance Armstrong Fitness Center at its headquarters in Beaverton, OR, as first reported by ESPN’s Darren Rovell. Like JHT, Nike said it will continue to support Livestrong.
The recent developments come in the wake of last week’s report by the United States Anti-Doping Agency that detailed allegations of widespread doping by Armstrong and his cycling teams when he won seven consecutive Tour de France titles from 1999 to 2005.