Organizers of the Tour of California, boasted after last year's race that no riders tested positive for banned substances, yet during a review of last year's event, it became apparent that the daily tests of riders did not include screening for EPO - the sport's most abused drug.

Even more surprising is the fact that the lead sponsor of the Tour of California is Amgen, the California biotechnology company that produces the genetically engineered version of EPO. Ironically, Amgen marketed its sponsorship as a way to educate people against improper use of its drug.