Reebok and Nike have taken a firm stand against
Michael Vick despite the player not yet being
convicted of dog fighting charges because the
allegations are "too disturbing to ignore".
On Friday sportswear manufacturers Nike and Reebok
suspended sales of all products endorsed by the
Atlanta Falcons player Michael Vick following
accusations he was involved in a dog-fighting
operation. The strength of public feeling regarding
this issue was illustrated last week by a campaign
to ban Vick from the NFL by the Humane Society of
the United States (HSUS) was the most responded to
since Hurricane Katrina.
The indictment said that dogs sometimes fought to the death on Vick's property.
Reebok issued a statement saying
they would not sell any Vick-endorsed products. "While we respect the legal process, we find the allegations against Mr. Vick too disturbing to ignore," said
Reebok. This is the first time Reebok has decided to suspend sales of products associated with an athlete due to the athlete's offensive
behavior. Nike, however, refuse to terminate their
contract with Vick until he has been "afforded the same due process as any citizen in the United
States".
Vick pleaded not guilty last Thursday to federal charges he and three associates were involved in a dog-fighting venture.
According to an 18-page indictment, Vick and the three others were engaged in a dog-fighting enterprise from early 2001 through April
2007. The indictment also added that dogs sometimes
fought to the death on Vick's property, and that either Vick or one of his associates killed losing or
under performing dogs by electrocution, hanging, drowning or slamming them to the ground.
