UK Sport have reacted with outrage after Olympic silver medallist Ben Proud became the first Briton to sign up for the doping-permitted Enhanced Games.
Swimmer Ben Proud announced earlier today that he has joined the controversial competition, which allows competitors to take performance-enhancing drugs, in a shock move.
And bosses at UK Sport, the government agency which invests lottery funding into Olympic and Paralympic sport, were quick to condemn the 30-year-old – and threatened to pull any financial support.
‘UK Sport condemns everything the Enhanced Games stands for in the strongest possible terms,’ a hard-hitting statement read.
‘We believe it risks compromising athlete health and welfare, undermines the trust of fans and is the absolute antithesis to our philosophy of winning well. We are incredibly disappointed to learn that any British athlete in one of our Olympic or Paralympic programmes would support such an event.
‘We are engaging with our colleagues at Aquatics GB as a matter of urgency to determine Ben Proud’s suitability to receive public funds.
Ben Proud has become the first British athlete to sign up for the controversial Enhanced Games
The swimmer, 30, will now no longer be able to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
‘It is clear however that any breach of anti-doping rules is contrary to the policies which any athlete must comply with to receive UK Sport funding.’
Proud is a world and European champion at 50m freestyle. By competing in Las Vegas next May, he will automatically be banned from international competition.
He defended his actions to the BBC.’‘I think this opens up the potential avenue to excel in a very different way,’ he said.
‘Speaking for myself, I think realistically I’ve achieved everything I can, and now the Enhanced [Games] is giving me a new opportunity. I definitely don’t think that’s undermining a clean sport.
‘I really respect the sport I’ve been part of, and I would never step back in knowing I’ve done something which isn’t in the rules.’
Aquatics GB were also quick to voice their concern. ‘Aquatics GB is immensely disappointed in Ben Proud’s announcement to sign with the Enhanced Games,’ a statement read.
‘Aquatics GB, along with our partners, stand firmly behind the values and principles of clean sport and condemns Ben’s decision in the strongest terms. A further statement will be issued in due course.’
Proud is a previous backer of UK Anti-Doping’s Clean Sport Week, while team-mates Adam Peaty and Duncan Scott have spoken out against doping.
World Aquatics became the first international sport federation to issue bans to athletes who have taken part in the Enhanced Games.
The inaugural Enhanced Games, set to take place in Las Vegas next May, will feature swimming, track and field and weightlifting, in an event designed to disrupt a status quo in the international anti-doping movement that some feel is failing.
It is backed by a group called 1789 Equity which is supported in part by Donald Trump Jr.
It has obtained funding ‘in the double-digit millions,’ according to founder Aron D’Souza. Athletes will compete for up to $500,000 in purses per event, with bonuses starting at $250,000 for those who break records.
Concerns have been raised over the health of those taking part, with the World Anti-Doping agency (Wada) branding it ‘dangerous and irresponsible’.
Travis Tygart, chief executive of the US Anti-Doping Agency, described it as ‘a clown show’.
