Globe and Mail reports that Nike has announced in a statement it has permanently ended its partnership with Hockey Canada because of the organization’s handling of sexual assault allegations and settlement payouts last year. The partnership was originally established in 1999. Hockey equipment company, Bauer, which is also long-standing sponsor, also put its partnership on hold but reinstated its deal with Hockey Canada earlier this month, after the organization hired Katherine Henderson as CEO and president and a new board of directors was also announced.

The hockey organization has been under fire since it was revealed in May that it had settled a multi-million-dollar lawsuit launched by a woman who alleged that eight hockey players, including members of the 2018 world junior team , sexually assaulted her at a hotel in London, Ontario.  Hockey Canada used a fund, made partially of player registration fees, to pay the settlement.