Olympic swimmer Ben Proud has become the first British athlete to join the Enhanced Games – an alternative Olympics that allows athletes to take performance-enhancing drugs.
The 30-year-old won silver in the 50 metres freestyle in Paris last summer, but come May 2026, he will take part in the inaugural Enhanced Games in Las Vegas, United States.
The controversial event has sparked debate among the sporting community, with government body UK Sport condemning the games in the “strongest possible terms”.
The Enhanced Games has been branded as an alternative to the traditional Olympic and Paralympic Games, allowing athletes to dope as they please rather than undergoing strict drug testing.
Under strict supervision, the games will permit athletes to take substances approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
It was created by London-based businessman Aron D’Souza, who says his sporting event “will obliterate all the world records” by “unlocking human potential”.
Mr D’Souza defends his concept and says it is “morally correct”.
The games will comprise three main categories – swimming, track and field and weightlifting, which will feature events such as 50m and 100m freestyle, 100m sprint and 110m hurdles.
On Thursday, the Enhanced Games announced on X that British swimmer, Proud, will be the first Briton to join the games.
The athlete said he does not believe the event undermines clean sport.
“I think (the Enhanced Games) opens up the potential avenue to excel in a very different way,” he told BBC Sport.
“I think realistically, I’ve achieved everything I can, and now the Enhanced 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, the body that oversees aquatic sports in Great Britain, said in a statement it was “immensely disappointed” by Proud’s decision.
“Aquatics GB, along with our partners, stand firmly behind the values and principles of clean sport and condemn Ben’s decision in the strongest terms,” the statement continued.
UK Sport also expressed its disappointment over Proud’s participation in the games.
A UK Sport spokesperson said: “UK Sport condemns everything the Enhanced Games stands for in the strongest possible terms.
“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.
“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.”
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