Nike’s heated legal battle with the world indoor champion escalates

Nike filed a federal court order against American 800m runner and world indoor champion Boris Berian, who is now at risk to miss the Olympic Trials.

Boris Berian
June 7, 2016
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Two years ago, American Boris Berian was flipping burgers at a local McDonald’s in Colorado to help fund his running career. Now, he’s being sued by the world’s largest sportswear company for causing them “irreparable harm.”

First reported by The Oregonian, Nike is seeking a federal court order to stop Berian, 23, from running any track events with a competitor’s kit because they claim that he is under an exclusive endorsement contract with them. Berian, the world indoor 800m champion, signed with Nike in June of 2015 but he claims that the contract ended on Dec. 31, 2015 and that Nike failed to match an offer set forth by New Balance in January.

According to the lawsuit, Nike says they had the rights to match any contract offered by a competitor “on terms no less favorable than those offered by an competitor.” The lawsuit hinges on whether Nike matched New Balance’s offer.

Merhawi Keflezighi, the brother of Boston marathon champion Meb Keflezighi, is Berian’s agent and was the one in contact with Nike personnel in contract negotiations.

Because of the lawsuit, Berian is at risk to miss the U.S. Olympic Trials, which are less than four weeks away, and his legal team announced that he has withdrawn from all races leading up the July 1-10 championships.

RELATED: 16-year-old beats a field of pros and collegiates, smashes Canadian 800m youth record.

Nike officials visited Berian at a track competition on May 20 and served him with a breach of contract lawsuit. The legal case has heated up ever since, during which Berian’s contract with New Balance was leaked.

New Balance’s offer includes $375,000 of base salary over three years. Berian’s team, the Big Bear Track Club, is sponsored by New Balance and he has been wearing the company’s gear at competitions this year. Berian won the Prefontaine Classic 800m recently in New Balance gear.

RELATED: Nike visits world indoor 800m champion at a track meet, informs him of lawsuit.

There has been plenty of social media buzz following the news of Berian being sued by the sportswear giant which has annual revenues as high as US$30 billion. Popular figures including author Malcolm Gladwell, Oiselle founder Sally Bergesen and T-Mobile US CEO John Legere have chimed in on Twitter. Their reactions are below.

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