Graham’s Lawyer Says Nike Has “No Basis” For Nixing Deal

Nike Suspends Gatlin, Terminates Deal With Coach

After Nike terminated its contract with track & field coach Trevor Graham, who has had several athletes test positive for performance-enhancing drugs, Graham’s attorney, Joe Zeszotarski, said in a statement, “There is absolutely no basis for Nike to terminate Trevor’s contract. The contract cannot legally be terminated based upon innuendo and suspicion. We have contacted Nike regarding the matter and are awaiting their response. ... We hope to avoid having to take legal action but will do so if necessary.” Additionally, Nike suspended its endorsement deal with U.S. sprinter Justin Gatlin, a client of Graham, who recently failed a drug test. Graham has said that Gatlin is “innocent of doping and accused a rogue masseur based in [Eugene, Oregon] — a longtime contract employee for Nike — of rubbing steroid cream into the runner’s legs.” Meanwhile, another Nike endorser and Graham-coached sprinter, LaTasha Jenkins, was reported last week to have tested positive for steroids, but Nike Senior Manager of Media Relations Derek Kent said that her “contract status has not changed.” In Portland, Helen Jung noted Nike has not “responded to repeated inquiries over the past week into whether it would consider taking stronger action to punish or police athlete endorsers for using banned substances.” Nike ended a contract with U.S. sprinter Kelli White following her admission in ’04 that she used steroids, and the company “did not renew a contract with U.S. sprinter Marion Jones, who has long faced drug accusations and tested positive this year for steroids.” SportsCorp President Marc Ganis said terminating the deals is “exactly the right thing to do. Otherwise, Nike would be viewed as an enabler if they continue to pay these people money, even though they are confirmed cheaters” (Portland OREGONIAN, 8/26).

NOTES: In N.Y., Lynn Zinser noted endorsement deals “typically have clauses giving sponsors an out if a client fails a doping test,” but Nike Dir of Communications Dean Stoyer said that the “move to suspend Gatlin’s contract was ‘without precedent’” (N.Y. TIMES, 8/26). The WALL STREET JOURNAL’s Stephanie Kang noted Nike has “stuck with controversial athletes” in the past, like Lakers G Kobe Bryant when he was accused of sexual assault in ’03. IEG Sponsorship Report Editorial Dir Jim Andrews said, “They have the reputation for sticking with their athletes. They don’t fully say they’re standing behind them, but they don’t drop them either” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 8/26).