By Sara Germano
Nike Inc. sewed up its sponsorship of track's U.S. governing
body for decades Wednesday, signing a deal through 2040 at a time
when the company's influence over the sport has raised controversy
among athletes.
The terms of the deal with USA Track & Field weren't
disclosed, but are a combination of "cash and value in kind," USATF
spokeswoman Jill Geer said. Nike has sponsored the organization
since 1991, and USATF currently relies on the company's support for
nearly half of its $19 million budget for 2013, Ms. Geer said.
USATF said the new deal extends the existing partnership between
the organization and Nike, which was set to expire in 2017.
News of the deal comes as U.S. track and field athletes have
threatened collective action against the governing body in the wake
of controversial events at a national meet in February. Two
athletes at the meet were disqualified after allegedly interfering
with rivals coached by Nike's Alberto Salazar. One of the
disqualifications was later reversed, but confusion persists about
the second, leaving opposing coaches, athletes and competing
sponsors questioning Nike's influence in the sport and USATF's
application of its rules.
In the case of the first disqualification, Mr. Salazar said in
February that he was advocating for his runner, as any coach would
do.
Nike spokesman KeJuan Wilkins said, with regard to concerns
about the national meet, "we recognize and support the independence
of the USATF as a governing body."
USATF has rejected claims that anyone received special treatment
at the meet and has appointed a working group to review how rules
are applied in the future.
The Track and Field Athletes Association has received support
from more than 100 athletes in arguing for greater transparency in
the sport's governance. Shoe companies including Berkshire
Hathaway's Brooks and Wolverine World Wide's Saucony brand have
pledged to continue supporting athletes in the event of any
collective action.
Earlier this month, Nike acknowledged its athletes' right to
organize.
Wednesday's deal was met with mixed reactions from the track
community. Adam Nelson, the 2004 Olympic shot put champion and
president of the TFAA, said he was impressed by the length of the
contract extension because it signals that American track is worthy
of long-term investment.
Lauren Fleshman, a professional runner for women's apparel
startup Oiselle and a 5,000-meter national champion, said that the
length and exclusivity of the deal between Nike and USATF could
crowd other sponsors out of the sport and ultimately give athletes
fewer opportunities to seek individual funding.
"We have no league minimums, and there's no room for more than
one sponsor," said Ms. Fleshman, herself a former Nike athlete.
Mr. Wilkins, the Nike spokesman, said the company will continue
to support track athletes and that Wednesday's deal extension "has
no bearing on our relationships with individual contracts."
Write to Sara Germano at sara.germano@wsj.com
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