The Olympic silver medallist Ben Proud has develop into the primary Briton to hitch the Enhanced Games, an occasion that enables athletes to take performance-enhancing drugs.
The 30-year-old, who got here second within the 50m freestyle in Paris final summer time, doesn’t imagine the occasion undermines clear sport. “I suppose [the Enhanced Games] opens up the potential avenue to excel in a really completely different manner,” he advised BBC Sport.
“Realistically, I’ve achieved every little thing I can and now the Enhanced is giving me a brand new alternative. I undoubtedly don’t suppose that’s undermining a clear sport. I actually respect the game I’ve been a part of and I might by no means step again in realizing I’ve achieved one thing which isn’t within the guidelines.”
Proud stated he had discovered opponents committing doping violations in his sport “extremely irritating”. The Enhanced Video games permits athletes to take substances authorised by the US Meals and Drug Administration, beneath strict supervision.
“I’ll by no means take something that I’m not sure of,” Proud stated. “They aren’t permitting anybody to take part if they’re beneath any stress or well being dangers.”
A UK Sport spokesperson stated: “UK Sport condemns every little thing the Enhanced Video games stands for within the strongest potential phrases. We imagine it dangers compromising athlete well being and welfare, undermines the belief of followers and is absolutely the antithesis to our philosophy of profitable properly.
“We’re extremely dissatisfied to be taught that any British athlete in certainly one of our Olympic or Paralympic programmes would assist such an occasion. We’re partaking with our colleagues at Aquatics GB as a matter of urgency to find out Ben Proud’s suitability to obtain public funds.
“It’s clear, nonetheless, that any breach of anti-doping guidelines is opposite to the insurance policies any athlete should adjust to to obtain UK Sport funding.”
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An announcement from Aquatics GB stated the governing physique was “immensely dissatisfied in Ben Proud’s announcement to signal with the Enhanced Video games”, including: “Aquatics GB, together with our companions, stand firmly behind the values and rules of unpolluted sport and condemns Ben’s determination within the strongest phrases.”
The inaugural Enhanced Video games are scheduled for Could in Las Vegas.
