Copies of OJ Simpson's controversial hypothetical biography have appeared on auction website eBay.

His "If I Did It" book, taken by some as an admission of guilt to the murders of his wife and her friend, was due to be published by Rupert Murdoch's company Harper Collins, but was dropped after public outcry.

Publishers had said all copies would be destroyed, but two have appeared on the website and were attracting bids of more than $200,000.

Meanwhile, Simpson has defended his decision to give the go-ahead for the book but appeared relieved it was not being published.

"This was an opportunity for my kids to get their financial legacy," he told Associated Press. "My kids understand. I made it clear that it's blood money, but it's no different than any of the other writers who did books on this case."

He said it was ghost written and that it was not a confession. "I made it clear from the first day I met the writer that I wasn't involved," he explained. "I said, 'I have nothing to confess.'"

He added that he had been willing to take the bad publicity "if that's what it took" to make money, and told a reporter: "You guys are going to dog me no matter what." But, on the abandonment, he added: "I feel like a man who's had the weight of the world taken off me."