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Nissan has withdrawn its co-title sponsorship of the RadioShack-Nissan-Trek cycling team with immediate effect. The squad has felt the full force of the Lance Armstrong scandal.
David Reuter, the vice-president of corporate communications for Nissan Americas, said: "Nissan and the management team of RadioShack-Nissan-Trek cycling have reached an agreement that provides for Nissan's immediate withdrawal as a sponsor of the team, while enabling the team to continue competing in the upcoming 2013 season. Nissan wishes the riders, team management and professional cycling well in future endeavours."
Johan Bruyneel left his role as general manager of the Luxembourg-based team in October after being implicated in the United States Anti-Doping Agency investigation into the practices of Armstrong and his United States Postal Service team.
The Belgian was team director of the US Postal team during the Armstrong era, and continues to protest his innocence and fight charges, long after the Texan was banned for life and stripped of all results from 1 August 1998, including seven Tour de France titles.
The RadioShack squad also had to face the most high-profile drugs scandal of the 2012 Tour, when Frank Schleck, third in the 2011 Tour, tested positive for the banned diuretic Xipamide and left the race.
Schleck protested his innocence, with suggestions he had been poisoned, and his position, and any suspension, is still to be clarified by the International Cycling Union.
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