OLYMPIC silver medallist Ben Proud shocked GB chiefs by announcing he is retiring from global competition to join the drug-assisted “Enhanced Games”.
Swim ace Proud, 30, finished a fraction of a second behind Australia’s Cameron McEvoy in the 20m freestyle sprint in last year.
Olympic silver medallist Ben Proud has joined the Enhanced Games
But the Londoner has now quit to become the first Brit
The Enhanced Games, due to hold , including swimming, track and field and weightlifting, will allow competitors to use performance-enhancing drugs such as steroids.
But it will ban athletes who test positive for recreational substances including cocaine and heroin.
Proud dismissed suggestions he was seeking to undermine clean sport, insisting: “No. It opens up the potential avenue to excel in a very different way.
“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.”
But his decision brought a stunned and angry reaction from British swimming bosses.
A spokesman said: “Aquatics GB is immensely disappointed in Ben Proud’s announcement to sign with the Enhanced Games.
“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.”
Aquatics GB’s criticism was echoed by UK Anti-Doping, whose chief executive Jane Rumble said: “It is incredibly disappointing that any British athlete would consider competing in an event that flies in the face of the true spirit of sport.
“Any decision by any athlete to compete in the Enhanced Games risks undermining the values of a sporting landscape that prizes hard work, integrity, pure talent and 100% clean sport.
“It’s a landscape UK Anti-Doping works hard to protect.
“So it is with deep concern for all clean athletes, and all those who love sport, that the event may go ahead, with any British athlete saying they will take part.
“It is an undertaking that diminishes, rather than ‘enhances’, all those involved.”
