adidas today suspended its sponsorship deal with U.S. sprinter Tyson Gay after he "failed an out-of-competition dope test," according to REUTERS. An adidas spokesperson said, "We are shocked by these recent allegations, and even if we presume his innocence until proven otherwise, our contract with Tyson is currently suspended." Per the terms of its contract, adidas can end the sponsorship "if the athlete is found guilty of the possession or use of drugs or any other prohibited substance" (REUTERS, 7/15). Sprinter Asafa Powell also was named yesterday as one of five Jamaican track and field athletes who had recently failed a drug test. Li Ning, which sponsors Powell, "was not immediately available for comment" (DAILYMAIL.co.uk, 7/15). Puma sponsors the Jamaican track and field team "through a contract with the national association," but the company "declined to comment because it does not have individual contracts with any of the athletes involved." Puma does sponsor Gold Medal-winner Usain Bolt, but Bolt's manager "said he was not involved in the latest doping scandal" (TELEGRAPH.co.uk, 7/15).
