24 Hour Fitness cuts ties with Lance Armstrong

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Posted October 18, 2012 2:12 pm by

24 Hour Fitness cuts ties with Lance Armstrong

24 Hour Fitness cuts ties with Lance Armstrong

San Ramon-based 24 Hour Fitness is yanking Lance Armstrong’s name from its six Armstrong-branded fitness centers. The chain of fitness centers made the announcement Wednesday in the wake of mounting evidence that the famed cyclist used performance-enhancing drugs.

Four of the Armstrong-branded 24 Hour Fitness locations are in the Austin, Texas, area. Armstrong makes his home in Austin. The two other centers are in Tigard, Ore., and Denver. The fitness chain has a big presence in the San Francisco Bay Area, but none of the gyms in the region bears Armstrong’s name.

In a statement, 24 Hour Fitness said it “remains committed to helping our members improve their lives through fitness and does not condone the use of performance-enhancing drugs or procedures.”

“Given the evidence surrounding Lance Armstrong’s alleged actions, we have determined that our business relationship with Armstrong no longer aligns with our company’s mission and values,” the statement said. “Over the coming weeks, we plan to remove the Lance Armstrong brand from our six co-branded fitness clubs and further improve these facilities to enable and inspire our members to achieve their fitness goals.”

On Wednesday, various references to Armstrong had been removed from the 24 Hour Fitness website.

In August, the New York Times and other media outlets reported that 24 Fitness had been put up for sale with a reported price tag of roughly $2 billion. New York private equity firm Forstmann Little owns the fitness chain. Forstmann Little bought 24 Hour Fitness for $1.6 billion in 2005. The fitness chain was founded in San Leandro in 1983.

Nike and Anheuser-Busch are among other companies that announced Wednesday that they had dropped their endorsement deals with Armstrong. The cyclist won seven Tour de France cycling titles, which recently were stripped away following earth-shattering drug revelations. Armstrong has vehemently denied taking performance-enhancing drugs but recently stopped fighting the accusations.

Armstrong stepped down Wednesday as chairman of his Livestrong cancer-fighting charity.

“I have had the great honor of serving as this foundation’s chairman for the last five years and its mission and success are my top priorities,” Armstrong said in a statement posted on his nonprofit foundation’s website. “Today therefore, to spare the foundation any negative effects as a result of controversy surrounding my cycling career, I will conclude my chairmanship.”ABC Billing Company, AMERI SHAPE, amerishape, anytime fitness, ASF Billing Company, asf international, butterfly life, contours express, curves for women, enroll members, fitness ,fitness center, fitness life marketing, fitness marketing, fitness promotions, golds gym, world gym, gym, Gym Marketing, Gym promotions, health, health club, health club for sale, Health Club Marketing,  Health Club Promotion,  fitness Consultants, health club promotions, Health Clubs, join health club, Ladies Fitness, Ladies Workout Express, lady of america, NAC Billing Company, Peak Performance, planet fitness, Powerful Promotions, powerhouse gym, Professional Fitness Marketing, Raise EFT $6, Slim and tone, snap fitness, spa studio owners, Targeted fitness, marketing that generates new fitness,  Thousands of health clubs,   world health club, workout express, join,health club closed, health club opening,club solutions magazine, s,24 Hour Fitness,Anytime fitness,  Bally Total Fitness,Health Club Management ,Crunch Fitness,Club One,Curves,Equinox,Health Fitness Corp.,Lifestyle Family Fitness,Planet Fitness,Plus One Management,Powerhouse Gyms,Snap Fitness,Spectrum Athletic Clubs,Sport & Health,Town Sports International,Sports Club Co.,Urban Active,WellbridgeHealth Club,Western Athletic,World Gym, virgin active,workout anytime, la boxing, 9 rounds fitness,weight lifting gym, health spa, attorney general, health club contract, club enhancement fee, health club billing, health club fraud, health club franchise, gym franchise ,breaking industry news,health club news,

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