The">The American sportswear">sportswear company Nike has ended its sponsorship of the American cyclist and Tour de France winner, Lance Amstrong, saying there is

insurmountable

evidence he took part in doping. The">The cyclist has always denied doping, but last week said he would not contest dossier published by the US Anti-Doping Agency which accused him of cheating his way to the top. Alex Capstic reports.

The

sportswear

manufacturer had pledged to support Lance Armstrong, but it seems the weight of evidence supplied by US Anti-Doping Agency has convinced Nike to end its long standing relationship with the most successful cyclist in the history of the Tour de France. In a statement it accused him of apparently misleading the company for more than a decade. The news was released minutes after Lance Armstrong announced he would no longer be a figure-head for Livestrong, a cancer charity he formed in 1997. He said he wanted to limit the damage caused by the doping scandal.

On the eve of the European summit in Brussels, Germany has urged its European partners to agree to pool more economic sovereignty. From Berlin Chris Morris.

Germany is now pushing the idea that a new and powerful currency commissioner should be created for the euro-zone with real power to determine the shape and scope of national budgets. The Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has set out an ambitious negotiating position, a full fiscal union which would demand convention to be set up next year to change EU treaties. Many Euro-zone countries clearly disagree, they believe there are other priorities that should be addressed first and progress that can be made within existing treaties.