Smoking may be bad for your health, but money from big tobacco companies is usually the only way for some fringe sports to survive, according to a local dentist who took part in last year's Outdoor Quest in Malaysia.
Haston Liu Wai-ming and his four-member team PCS Camelback became the first group from China to take part in the adventure race. The team completed the 300km course - involving kayaking, white-water rafting, inline-skating, and mountain biking - but were unranked because they failed to finish certain sections on time.
Dr Liu told the Sunday Morning Post: 'If there were non-tobacco companies out there who were willing to provide the level of sponsorship we receive from cigarette companies, then they are most welcome to back us.
'I understand it is a controversial topic but in my opinion, I don't mind tobacco money being used to sponsor events like the Outdoor Quest. I think at the very least they are able to provide support for the sport that otherwise wouldn't be there.
'I don't think people are going to smoke more just because they watched the TV programme,' the non-smoking dentist said.
Tobacco companies have long sponsored sports events as a way to promote their products in the face of advertising bans. Formula One (F1) racing is a prime example, with three tobacco companies backing teams. Ferrari are backed by Philip Morris, and Renault by Japan Tobacco's Mild Seven, while British American Tobacco is reportedly in talks to sell its 98 per cent stake in British American Racing.