Ben Proud says lack of trust in anti-doping system and low prize money led him to join Enhanced Games

Ben Proud, a 30-year-old Olympic silver medallist and world and European 50m freestyle champion, has told The Times he was driven to sign up for the inaugural Enhanced Games by a lack of trust in anti-doping authorities and the financial realities faced by British swimmers.

UK Sport condemned Proud’s decision and warned it could withdraw funding; competing at the Las Vegas event, which allows the use of banned performance-enhancing drugs, would automatically render him ineligible for international competition under current rules. Proud is the first Briton publicly reported to have signed up for the event, which is scheduled for next May.

Speaking to The Times, Proud cited a series of high-profile doping controversies — including state-backed Russian programmes revealed after the Sochi Olympics and the case of Chinese swimmers who tested positive in 2021 but were later cleared to compete in Paris — as factors that eroded his faith in the existing anti-doping system. "I watched that documentary about it, Icarus. That was a really painful documentary for me to see," he said, adding that doubts about how some cases have been handled made him question whether adherence to the rules produced a level playing field.

Proud also said the financial incentives offered by the Enhanced Games played a role. Organisers have said athletes could win purses of up to $500,000 per event, with bonuses starting at $250,000 for record breakers. The event is backed by a private group called 1789 Equity and has drawn funding described by founder Aron D'Souza as being in the "double-digit millions." Reports have linked part of that support to Donald Trump Jr.

The Enhanced Games have prompted strong pushback from the established anti-doping and Olympic community. The World Anti-Doping Agency called the event "dangerous and irresponsible," and Travis Tygart, chief executive of the US Anti-Doping Agency, described it as "a clown show." A spokesperson for the British Olympic Association said it remained "vehemently opposed to what we believe to be a cynical and dangerous event." UK Sport — the government agency that distributes National Lottery and Exchequer funding to elite sport — reacted with outrage when Proud's participation was reported and warned that any financial support could be removed.

Proud previously campaigned against doping in sport, and several British team-mates, including Adam Peaty and Duncan Scott, have publicly denounced doping. He told The Times he had been a "sucker for rules" and had tried to comply fully during his career, but said perceived inconsistencies in anti-doping enforcement left him disillusioned. "We dedicate such a big portion of our lives to this," he said. "If there are people getting away with it that's a complete no-go. I don't want to say I've been treated unfairly because I've stuck by the rules, but if there are people getting away with it that's a complete no-go." He added that he was not overly concerned about the prospect of funding being pulled.

Organisers have framed the Enhanced Games as a challenge to the international anti-doping movement, arguing that the current system is flawed. Medical experts and anti-doping bodies have raised concerns about athlete health and the message such an event would send. Those concerns, along with the formal rules of sport federations and the Olympic movement, mean athletes who take part risk suspension and long-term exclusion from sanctioned events.

Proud’s announcement adds to an intensifying debate over how sport balances athlete welfare, public trust and financial incentives. With the Las Vegas event just months away, sports governing bodies and anti-doping organisations are likely to accelerate discussions about enforcement, athlete education and the implications of alternative competitions that explicitly permit banned substances.