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Amgen to sponsor cycle race

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Amgen Inc., a biotechnology firm in Thousand Oaks, Calif., will be the title sponsor of the 750-mile Tour of California cycle race, but critics are not happy.

The company says it hopes to use its sponsorship to promote the legitimate use of its anemia drugs, which are sometimes abused by competitive cyclists seeking to enhance their performances, reports The Los Angeles Times. The race will be in February.

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"In the context of ongoing doping scandals, this seems like a come-hither offer to would-be dopers," said Peter Laurie of Public Citizen, a watchdog group. The World Anti-Doping Agency, based in Montreal, also questioned Amgen's sponsorship, the report said.

Amgen scientist Steve Elliott acknowledged that the sponsorship seemed ironic, but noted the decision gives his company an opportunity to speak against blood doping and to educate people on proper uses of the drugs. He said he worked with the Olympic anti-doping lab to develop a test to detect Aranesp, one of Amgen's anemia drugs.

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