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Portland, Ore. • Nike is dropping its lawsuit against Boris Berian over what brand of gear he wears, freeing the middle-distance runner to concentrate on the Olympic Trials next week.
Berian is emerging as one of the feel-good stories with the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on the horizon. He's an 800-meter runner who flipped burgers at a McDonald's in Colorado Springs, Colo., to make ends meet while he trained.
At a meet last month in Southern California, Berian was sued by Nike Inc., which accused him of breach of contract. His endorsement deal with Nike went through Dec. 31, 2015, but gave the company the right to match any other offers.
Nike felt it matched a deal Berian later signed with New Balance Athletics Inc.
A judge was scheduled to issue a ruling on the eve of the Olympic Trials before Nike announced Thursday that it was dropping its suit.
Berian may now negotiate with any footwear company.