|
|
T-Mobile Suddenly Cancels Sports Sponsorship
T-Mobile has announced that it is to withdraw from sponsoring cycling sports events with immediate effect. The company cited the ongoing drugs doping scandals engulfing the sport for its reasoning. The decision was taken by the Board of Management of T-Mobile's parent company, Deutsche Telekom - which had been a sponsor of professional cycling since 1991. Sponsorship of both the menÃ's and women's teams is ended with this action.
"We arrived at this decision to separate our brand from further exposure from doping in sport and cycling specifically. This was a difficult decision given our long history of support for professional cycling and the efforts of Bob Stapleton in managing the team in 2007", said Deutsche Telekom Board member and CEO of T-Mobile International Hamid Akhavan.
"We have worked very hard with the current team management to promote a clean cycling sport but we reached the decision to continue our efforts to rid all sports of doping by applying our resources in other directions. Deutsche Telekom wants to make it clear that this action is not based on any disagreement with or misconduct by team management", Akhavan emphasized.
Over the past few days the Group has been negotiating with Neuer Straßen Sport, the operator of the T-Mobile Team, for the termination of the contract that was set to run until December 31, 2010. Both parties have agreed to keep the details confidential.
Posted to the site on 27th November 2007