Armstrong quits as chief of Livestrong charity

Nike and Lance Armstonrg launches "Stages" March 7, 2009 in Hollywood, California. NEW: Nike ends contract with Armstrong over "seemingly insurmountable" doping evidence NEW: Armstrong says his decision to step aside was made to protect the charity The former pro cyclist resigns from chairmanship of the organization he founded in 1997 The Livestrong charity raises money for cancer research and awareness (CNN) -- Former pro cyclist Lance Armstrong will step down as chairman of the Livestrong cancer charity he founded in 1997 after recovering from the disease, organization spokeswoman Katherine McLane said Wednesday. The move comes the same day that Nike, a key Armstrong sponsor, announced it was ending its contract with Armstrong amid "seemingly insurmountable evidence" that he participating in doping. Armstrong said his decision was made to "spare the foundation any negative effects as a result of controversy surrounding my cycling career," according to a statement posted to the group's website. Last week, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said it had uncovered overwhelming evidence of Armstrong's involvement in a sophisticated doping program while a professional cyclist. Armstrong has consistently denied the claims. Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong has denied numerous accusations of doping over the years. Look back at his record-setting career. Armstrong, 17, competes in the Jeep Triathlon Grand Prix in 1988. He became a professional triathlete at age 16 and joined the U.S. National Cycling Team two years later. In 1995, Armstrong wins the 18th stage of the Tour de France. He finished 36th overall and finished the race for the first time that year. Armstrong rides for charity in May 1998 at the Ikon Ride for the Roses to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation. He established the foundation to benefit cancer research after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1996. After treatment, he was declared cancer-free in February 1997. Armstrong takes his honor lap on the Champs-Élysées in Paris after winning the Tour de France for the first time in 1999. After winning the 2000 Tour de France, Armstrong holds his son Luke on his shoulders. Armstrong rides during the 18th stage of the 2001 Tour de France. He won the tour that year for the third consecutive time. Armstrong celebrates winning the 10th stage of the Tour de France in 2001. After winning the 2001 Tour de France, Armstrong presents President George W. Bush with a U.S. Postal Service yellow jersey and a replica of the bike he used to win the race. Armstrong celebrates on the podium after winning the Tour de France by 61 seconds in 2003. It was his fifth consecutive win. Jay Leno interviews Armstrong on "The Tonight Show" in 2003. After his six consecutive Tour de France win in 2004, Armstrong attends a celebration in his honor in front of the Texas State Capitol in Austin. Armstrong arrives at the 2005 American Music Awards in Los Angeles with his then-fiancee Sheryl Crow. The couple never made it down the aisle, splitting up the following year. Armstrong holds up a paper displaying the number seven at the start of the Tour de France in 2005. He went on to win his seventh consecutive victory. As a cancer survivor, Armstrong testifies during a Senate hearing in 2008 on Capitol Hill. The hearing focused on finding a cure for cancer in the 21st century. In 2009, Armstrong suffers a broken collarbone after falling during a race in Spain along with more than a dozen other riders. Young Armstrong fans write messages on the ground using yellow chalk ahead of the 2009 Tour de France. He came in third place that year. Armstrong launches the three-day Livestrong Global Cancer Summit in 2009 in Dublin, Ireland. The event was organized by his foundation. In May 2010, Armstrong crashes during the Amgen Tour of California and is taken to the hospital. That same day, he denied allegations of doping made by former teammate Floyd Landis. Ahead of what he said would be his last Tour de France, Armstrong gears up for the start of the race in 2010. Lance Armstrong looks back as he rides in a breakaway during the 2010 Tour de France. Armstrong finishes 23rd in the 2010 Tour de France. He announced his retirement from the world of professional cycling in February 2011. He said he wants to devote more time to his family and the fight against cancer. Armstrong's son Luke; twin daughters, Isabelle and Grace; and 1-year-old son, Max, stand outside the Radioshack team bus on a rest day during the 2010 Tour de France. The frame of Armstrong's bike is engraved with the names of his four children at the time and the Spanish word for five, "cinco." His fifth child, Olivia, was born in October 2010. In February 2012, Armstrong competes in the 70.3 Ironman Triathlon in Panama City. He went on to claim two Half Ironman triathlon titles by June. He got back into the sport after retiring from professional cycling. Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong over the years 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Photos: Lance Armstrong over the years Lance Armstrong: A champion at cheating? Hamilton: I doped for Lance Armstrong Attorney: Armstrong case a 'witch hunt' Nike said it would continue to support Livestrong initiatives. Founding chairman Jeff Garvey will take over for Armstrong, the Texas-based organization said. Read more: Nike ends contract with Lance Armstrong Armstrong said that he and his family would "continue our service to the foundation and the cancer community," but didn't specify in what role. Armstrong founded the charity after his own treatment for testicular cancer that had spread to his brain and lungs. He came back from the disease seemingly stronger than ever, winning the first of his seven Tour de France titles three years after he was diagnosed with cancer. His success became an inspiration for cancer patients worldwide, spreading his reach far beyond the insular world of cycling and cementing a place in celebrity culture, dating a rock star and appearing in movies. The bright yellow "LIVESTRONG" wristbands distribute by his charity became a potent symbol for perseverance in the face of adversity. People should look to that legacy in assessing Armstrong, Livestrong President Doug Ulman said in praising the charity's founder. Read more: Evidence of Armstrong doping 'overwhelming,' agency says "Lance's devotion to serving others whose lives were irrevocably changed by cancer, as his was, is unsurpassable," he said in the statement. "We are incredibly proud of his record as an advocate and philanthropist and are deeply grateful that Lance and his family will continue to be actively involved with the Foundation's advocacy and service work." In its report, the anti-doping agency made public testimony from Armstrong's teammates and others involved in the U.S. Postal Service- and Discovery-sponsored cycling teams who said the seven-time Tour de France winner was among team members who used banned performance-enhancing substances and tried to hide it from testing officials. Armstrong has said he never has failed a drug test and has consistently denied participating in any banned practices. Armstrong's lawyer, Tim Herman, called the report last week a "one-sided hatchet job" and a "government-funded witch hunt." Opinion: With Armstrong's disgrace, will anything change? Last week, Ulman also defended Armstrong against the doping charges, issuing a statement saying USADA appeared to be "motivated more by publicity rather than fulfilling its mission." In that October 10 statement, he lauded Armstrong for his achievements "both on and off the bike." McLane also noted the day of the report's release that donations to the charity had boomed since August, when Armstrong announced he was ending his legal fight to stop USADA's investigation. According to Livestrong, Armstrong has helped raise nearly $500 million for cancer research, treatment and support in his role as Livestrong founder and helped "dispel the stigma and misconceptions about the disease." Read more: Highlights of the Armstrong report Do you own a Livestrong bracelet? Share with us on CNN iReport CNN's Danielle Dellorto contributed to this report.

Opinion: More doping fallout coming

Lance Armstrong finishes the Power of Four Mountain Bike Race in Aspen, Colorado, on August 25. Extent of doping indictment against Armstrong is shocking, says Richard W. Pound Armstrong, who had an opportunity to challenge the findings, gave up, Pound says The cheating involved was highly organized, well financed and well coordinated, he says Pound: How could cycling officials not have known about such rampant doping? Editor's note: Richard W. Pound was the founding president of the World Anti-Doping Agency and is a member of its Foundation Board. (CNN) -- Now that Lance Armstrong, the seven-time Tour de France winner, has been thoroughly disgraced, one must ask: Has anyone learned anything? In August, the United States Anti-Doping Agency announced that it had disqualified Lance Armstrong for his use of performance-enhancing drugs. His Tour de France victories were canceled, and he was banned from further competition in all Olympic sports. The agency announced that it would soon release its "reasoned decision," which it did on October 10. Shortly before the anti-doping agency announcement, Armstrong announced that he would not respond to any decision taken. He was, he said, putting cycling behind him and moving on with his life promoting the fight against cancer. Armstrong resigns from Livestrong cancer charity Interestingly enough, however, Armstrong had mounted an aggressive and desperate legal campaign to prevent the arbitration process (to which he is subject pursuant to cycling rules and the provisions of the World Anti-Doping Code) from proceeding. His first attempt in the district court in Texas was thrown out. The judge found that the lengthy document, filled with purple prose, was unacceptable, both as to length, but, more important, content and tone. An abbreviated document was then filed. The action was defended by the agency. Armstrong lost. The anti-doping agency's reasoned decision is a well prepared, well written, compelling document. Its statements and conclusions are supported by documentary evidence, scientific data and sworn affidavits -- more than a thousand pages in all. It is a shocking indictment of the conduct of the U.S. Postal Service cycling team and the riders and officials surrounding it. According to the agency report, Armstrong was not only complicit, but a leader who enforced the use of the performance-enhancing drugs. The conclusions of the report appear unassailable. Armstrong, who had an opportunity to challenge the findings, abandoned the field, in a complete reversal of all his previous conduct. News: Evidence of Armstrong doping 'overwhelming,' agency says Become a fan of CNNOpinion Stay up to date on the latest opinion, analysis and conversations through social media. Join us at Facebook/CNNOpinion and follow us @CNNOpinion on Twitter. We welcome your ideas and comments. The International Cycling Union has until Halloween to decide whether it will accept the agency's decision. The World Anti-Doping Agency has a further three weeks to intervene, should the cycling union act in a manner which it believes to be incorrect. But the cycling union has already compromised itself by declaring in advance that the United States Anti-Doping Agency process was unsatisfactory. Any appeal which it might institute will lead to a far more searching investigation into its own activities than it is likely to relish. While we wait for the outcome of that end-game, there are already some lessons to be learned. Armstrong teammate reveals doping method Armstrong teammate reveals doping method Team masseuse claims Armstrong doped 1. This day of Armstrong's disgrace has been coming for some time. It would undoubtedly have come sooner but for the fact that the United States is arguably the most litigious country in the world. In order to make its statements regarding Armstrong, the U.S. anti-doping agency had to be more than certain of its facts. That takes time and careful research. There had been too much smoke for too long for unbiased observers not to believe that there must be some fire, as well. What they perhaps did not expect was the resulting conflagration. 2. You can intimidate some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time. Some who would have been willing to talk about Armstrong could not afford to defend against actual or threatened lawsuits. Some needed the jobs they had, which would be at risk or disappear if Armstrong wanted that to happen. Others were not willing to risk the harassment and abuse that came from crossing him. News: Lance Armstrong's legacy may withstand accusations 3. The cheating involved was highly organized, well financed and well-coordinated. It was not simply a few athletes trying to get an edge by surreptitious use of banned substances. Instead it was an essential part of the USPS team strategy, and it involved participants in several countries, all working to achieve better competitive results by deliberately breaking agreed upon rules at the expense of athletes who competed clean. 4. The Armstrong and USPS revelations are so well documented that the cycling union officials have an all but insurmountable challenge if they seek to deny them or to try to sweep them under the carpet. Some of the claims in the report raise questions about whether there was involvement or awareness of the part of the union itself. What will the union do about that? A tougher question yet is whether they can credibly believe that the USPS team was the only team in the peloton that used drugs. 5. But the real question is how -- how? -- could the leading cycling officials, those most familiar with the sport and its riders, not have been aware of the nature and extent to which their sport was compromised? Stay tuned. This is far from over, and there likely will be even more to be learned from this sordid affair. Do you own a Livestrong bracelet? Share with us on CNN iReport The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Richard W. Pound.

Bugs invade town, covering kids, dogs, food

Residents in Portage, Utah, can't seem to get rid of boxelder bugs that have swarmed their small town. KSL's Mike Anderson reports. By Miguel Llanos, NBC News In Portage, Utah, they're everywhere: on children, on dogs, in the food, in basements and along window sills. Residents there and in much of Utah are used to seeing these visitors, known as boxelder bugs, but not in the numbers that this year has produced. "They've just been awful this fall," Keith Wadman told NBC station KSL-TV. "They're in your food, they're in your house ... they just crawl everywhere." "They're in the kitchen, they're in the bathroom, they're in the bedroom. They walk right on the dogs even," added Lisa Bryant, one of the few hundred residents of Portage, a town near the Idaho state line. "Every time the kids come in, we play a little game to see how many they have on them," said Nick Tree, "then we kill 'em." Tree added that while he constantly vacuums them from his basement, "somehow they creep back in." Diane Alston, a bug expert at Utah State University, had some advice for terminating the bugs until the winter cold does it for them. "At my house I like to use an insecticidal soap product and just spray it up on the sides of the house," she told KSL. "That soap will break down the wax covering on their body and dry them out." The university also has a list of tips for dealing with boxelder bugs, among them: "Avoid squishing adults because they can leave a stain on fabrics and can release a foul odor." The university suspects this year has been particularly bad because of wet weather last year, a mild winter and then a warm summer. As you might expect, boxelder bugs are a hot topic not just in Portage but across Utah. KSL reader comments on the story included these: One suggested using the dead bugs as garden fertilizer. "Sounds a little grotesque, but hey, maybe it would be a good solution for some folks." Deploying chickens to eat live bugs was suggested by a few readers. "We have had a dozen free-range chickens for years and NEVER see one," posted a reader. A mix of water and dishwater soap to kill them was endorsed by several. "I used 3 spray bottles full and soon we had snow-shovels full of dead bugs to dump in the garbage," one reader stated. "I think I perpetuated the problem by bringing about 20 plus back in the crevices of my car from the Idaho side of Cache valley," lamented another reader. "It's not cool when you're driving and they pop out at you in the car. This is the first year however that they have gotten inside our house." And from nearby Rose Canyon, a reader had this to say: "They are bad here!! You can't even tell the color of my house during the day." Wadman, the Portage resident, did see a silver lining. "The only redeeming quality they have," he said of the bugs, "is that they don't bite." More content from NBCNews.com: Stray anti-military vibes reverberate as thousands of vets head to college Video: Family, friends remember Jessica Ridgeway at memorial Five bodies found at scene of Denver bar fire Jogger killed in police shootout in California Fastest US land animal, the pronghorn, gets help crossing highway Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

FBI: Broadway producers scammed

A production of "The Producers," a comedic Mel Brooks musical, on Broadway. Businessman and stockbroker Mark Hotton is arrested at his Long Island home Authorities say he created fake investors to fool producers of "Rebecca: The Musical," Hotton promised the show a $4.5 million investment from four overseas investors, officials say When pressed, he said one investor had died of malaria, authorities say New York (CNN) -- It was producers who cooked up a money-making scam in the Broadway show "The Producers," but officials allege it was producers who were the victims in a real-life Broadway scheme. Authorities arrested businessman and stockbroker Mark Hotton at his Long Island home Monday morning on charges of defrauding Broadway producers and a Connecticut-based real estate company in two separate ruses, the U.S. district attorney in Manhattan and the FBI said in a news release. From September 2011 to October 2012, Hotton created fake investors and businesses to fool producers of "Rebecca: The Musical," the release said. Hotton promised the show a $4.5 million investment from four overseas investors in return for $60,000 paid to Hotton and entities that he owned, authorities allege. He also is charged with a separate $750,000 real-estate scheme. The "Rebecca" producers were introduced to Hotton through the investment community in February 2012, when they had fallen about $4 million short of their budget, producer Ben Sprecher told CNN Tuesday. The producers signed an agreement with Hotton's TM Consulting Inc. on February 7 that entitled Hotton to a $7,500 fee and a guarantee of 8% of any money he raised in excess of $250,000, the government said. Hotton claimed to have secured the $4.5 million from four investors, identified in the news release as Paul Abrams of Hawthorne, East Victoria; Roger Thomas of St. Peter Port, Guernsey; Julian Spencer of Crocker Hill, Chichester, Sussex; and Walter Timmons of London. All of them Hotton allegedly created and portrayed himself through e-mail. Sprecher said he had not doubted the legitimacy of the deal because of the phone conversations and e-mail correspondences that he had with supposed investors. Hotton had even introduced him to a woman he said was Paul Abrams' niece, he said. But when producers started pressing Hotton for the money, Hotton told them Paul Abrams had suddenly died of malaria, Sprecher said. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said that in an investigation begun in September 2012, officials uncovered that the investors' e-mail accounts and the websites for businesses associated with the investors were all controlled by Hotton. "As part of one alleged scheme, Hotton concocted a cast of characters to invest in a major musical -- investors who turned out to be deep-pocketed phantoms," Bharara said in the news release. "To carry out the alleged fraud, Hotton faked lives, faked companies and even staged a fake death, pretending that one imaginary investor had suddenly died from malaria." Producers had already spent $6 million on Rebecca and were about to begin rehearsals when they found out the $4.5 million from Hotton was not there, Sprecher said. They are now searching to replace that capital and move forward with the show, which has been indefinitely postponed. Hotton is expected to be presented at federal court in Central Islip, New York, where he will face up to 20 years in prison on each charge, according to officials.

Judge sets June start date for Zimmerman murder trial

By NBC News staff Handout / Reuters George Zimmerman is seen in a photo shortly after he shot and killed Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla., in February. A Florida judge has set June 10, 2013 as the start date of the murder trial of George Zimmerman. Zimmerman, 29, a former neighborhood watch volunteer, is charged with second-degree murder for shooting and killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla., on Feb. 26. Zimmerman claimed self-defense in the case and has pleaded not guilty. Stay informed with the latest headlines; sign up for our newsletter Attorneys in the case said they estimate the trial will last three weeks, and Prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda said he expected the jury selection would take longer than the trial itself, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Circuit Court Judge Debra Nelson was appointed to the case in late August after the former judge in the case made disparaging remarks about Zimmerman's character and advocated for additional charges against him during a bond hearing. A hearing is set for Friday for Nelson to hear arguments on several new motions, including the defense asking for more time to interview state witnesses, reported NBCMiami.com.  Zimmerman, whose father is white and whose mother is Peruvian, says he shot Martin, who was black, in self-defense after following him in a gated community in Sanford. Police questioned Zimmerman but initially decided against pressing charges. The lack of an arrest or charges sparked protests nationwide, with critics alleging that Zimmerman confronted Martin because of his race. Zimmerman's supporters denied that. The decision whether to arrest Zimmerman was delayed for several weeks because Zimmerman had indicated that he would argue self-defense under Florida's so-called Stand Your Ground law, which shields subjects from prosecution if a judge determines that the shooting was justified to protect life or property. Zimmerman is currently out of jail on bail. He and his wife, Shellie, who is charged with perjury in the case for her claims that the couple had no money at a bond hearing, are both living in hiding in Seminole County, according to the Sun-Sentinel. More content from NBCNews.com: Stray anti-military vibes reverberate as thousands of vets head to college Five bodies found at scene of Denver bar fire 'Everyone's little girl': Thousands gather to mourn slain Jessica Ridgeway Fastest US land animal, the pronghorn, gets help crossing highway Both female officers drop out of grueling Marine Corps infantry course Bronx teacher banned from district after racy photos of student found Video: More client names to be released in Zumba sex case Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook