UK Sport has said it “condemns everything the Enhanced Games stands for” after Olympic swimming silver medallist Ben Proud became the first British athlete to join the event.
Proud, 30, who came second in the 50m freestyle in Paris last summer, said he does not believe the event, which allows athletes to take performance-enhancing drugs, 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.”
He said he had found athletes committing doping violations in the traditional version of the sport “incredibly frustrating”.
The Enhanced Games allows athletes to take substances approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under strict supervision.
“I will never take anything that I am unsure of,” Proud added. “They are not allowing anyone to participate if they are under any stress or health risks.”
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But 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.”
The spokesperson added: “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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Similarly, Aquatics GB said 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 said.
The inaugural Enhanced Games are scheduled to take place in Las Vegas next May.
