SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- The Tour of California has acknowledged that cyclists last year were not tested for the most commonly abused drug in the sport.
The 640-mile race from San Francisco to Long Beach starts Sunday. This is its second year.
Organizers admit they did not test for EPO, an anti-anemia drug given to cancer and dialysis patients, The New York Times reported. The drug is used illicitly by athletes to boost performance.
The race is sponsored by Amgen, which manufactures a genetically engineered version of EPO. The company said it was using the race to educate the public on the risk of improper use of the drug.
"Our understanding going into the race was that the test would be included," said a company spokeswoman, Mary Klem. "And we were told afterward that no rider tested positive for EPO or for any banned substances."
Last year's winner of the Tour of California was Floyd Landis. He will not be competing this year as he fights allegations that he used testosterone to win the Tour de France.
