U.S : NIKE, this is discrimination.

Dear friend,

Nike is grossly mistreating its women athletes.

Last week, Mary Cain, the youngest track and field athlete to make a World Championships team, made a bombshell revelation about her time on Nike's elite track team. The all-male Nike staff pushed her to lose more and more weight and publicly shamed her for it, until Cain started self-harming, lost weight to the point of breaking five bones, and became suicidal.¹

Nike's male-run athletic programs did not only facilitate Cain's physical and emotional breakdown. Just this summer, Nike was forced to end its practice of financially penalizing athletes for getting pregnant, after athletes Alysia Montaño and Kara Goucher broke their non-disclosure agreements to share that Nike stopped paying them for becoming pregnant.²

Nike stated that it will open an investigation into Cain's accusations by talking to the athletes in her program, the Oregon Project.³ But talking to people isn't enough --Nike needs to commit to real change. If thousands speak out while Cain's story is in the news, Nike would be forced to make changes. Will you sign the petition ?

Tell NIKE, Inc. executives : "Stop mistreating and discriminating against NIKE's female athletes.  Implement clear, specific policies that respect and safeguard female athletes' health and bodies."

Sign the petition

Nike is already weathering another scandal after Cain's own coach, renowned track coach Alberto Salazar, was found to be trafficking testosterone and experimenting with it on athletes.⁴ It's why the CEO Mark Parker, who sanctioned Salazar's behavior, is stepping down at the end of this year.⁵ This is a critical moment as Nike is especially concerned about it public image in the face of these scandals. If we speak out now, we can pressure the company to do better for its women's athletes.

Cain revealed that the elite program she had been part of had no certified nutritionist, no certified sports psychologist, while Salazar and others shamed and accused her of gaining weight whenever she ran poorly.⁶ Instead of helping women athletes succeed, Nike is endangering their mental and physical health, while profiting from marketing their bodies.

While Nike is going through a change in leadership, it's crucial that it is pressured to commit to implementing clear, specific policies that will fairly treat women and ensure their success.

Because it's not just about one company. In recent years, young girls' participation in sports has significantly increased, while discrimination from media, sponsors, and the bigger sports world remains. Changing the culture at one of the most visible and respected athletic programs in the country would reverberate in the battle for fairness and equality for women in sports.

Will you sign the petition to Nike demanding they implement policies that safeguard female athletes' health?

Thanks for speaking out !

Shaunna, Kat, Kathy, Susan, Anathea, Melody, Pam, Lindsay, Sonja, Kimberly, Maria, JoEllen, and Sy, the UltraViolet team.

Sources :

1. I Was the Fastest Girl in America, Until I Joined Nike, New York Times, November 7, 2019

2. Nike Says It Will End Financial Penalties for Pregnant Athletes, New York Times, May 24, 2019

3. After Claims of Emotional and Physical Abuse of Women Runners, Nike Will Investigate Prestigious Oregon Project, Jezebel, November 8, 2019

4. Nike Oregon Project to shut down following Alberto Salazar ban, CNN, October 11, 2019

5. Nike CEO Mark Parker to step down—ex-eBay CEO John Donahoe to replace him, CNBC, October 22, 2019

6. I Was the Fastest Girl in America, Until I Joined Nike, New York Times, November 7, 2019

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