Beckham unwittingly promotes sex drug

BEIJING, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- A spokesman for David Beckham said the soccer star did not give consent for his image to be used in a Chinese commercial for an impotence drug.

Footage of Beckham from a television interview was paired with Chinese dubbing in the advertisement to make it appear that the British athlete is promoting the impotence drug, which is marketed as a competitor to Pfizer's Viagra, The Daily Telegraph reported Friday.

"You want to know how I keep myself hard on the pitch?" a voice asks in Chinese while Beckham's image is on screen. "The American medicine ... is of great help. And it is also my secret weapon with Victoria."

Lawyers said the Chinese legal system would make it difficult for Beckham to pursue action against the company that created the commercial.

The makers of the product have previously used actors Keanu Reeves and Sean Connery in similar commercials.

"I have just reached 70 and, after taking these pills, Barbara has told me that I am like the James Bond of 25 years ago. I have told my friends that they have to use them," the Chinese voice says, purporting to be translating Connery's words. However, Connery is actually 78 years old and his wife's name is Micheline.