Ben Proud Sparks Debate by Joining the Enhanced Games
Olympic silver medallist Ben Proud has made headlines as the first British athlete to officially join the Enhanced Games — a controversial event that permits performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision. Proud, now 30, has retired from what he calls “traditional swimming” to take on this new challenge, and his decision has been met with both curiosity and criticism.
Proud is no stranger to success. He’s a world and European champion in the 50-metre freestyle and finally claimed an Olympic silver medal at the Paris Games in 2024. But despite his accolades, he admits he never achieved his ultimate goals — Olympic gold or the long-standing world record in his signature event. For him, the Enhanced Games represent a new pathway. As he explained, “It gives me a new opportunity to continue this pursuit and see how far I can take things.”
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The Enhanced Games, first introduced in 2023, will launch officially in Las Vegas in May 2026. Unlike traditional competitions governed by World Anti-Doping Agency rules, athletes here are permitted to use substances approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Proud insists that participation does not undermine clean sport. Instead, he sees it as a completely separate arena, one that allows athletes to explore performance in a different way while being supervised by doctors and specialists.
His announcement, however, has drawn sharp condemnation. Aquatics GB expressed being “immensely disappointed,” stressing its commitment to clean sport and rejecting Proud’s choice “in the strongest terms.” UK Sport echoed that view, warning that his eligibility for public funding is under urgent review. Officials called the Enhanced Games “the antithesis” of their philosophy of winning with integrity. The World Anti-Doping Agency also weighed in, branding the entire project “dangerous and irresponsible.”
The backlash is not surprising. Proud himself has previously been a supporter of UK Anti-Doping initiatives, even speaking out about how frustrating it was to see athletes cheat in traditional competitions. He maintains that his stance hasn’t changed: he believes doping in clean sport is unacceptable. What makes the Enhanced Games different, in his eyes, is transparency — no secrets, no hidden violations, only declared use under medical guidance.
Financial incentives are also part of the picture. Organisers have promised lucrative appearance fees and bonuses, with one swimmer reportedly earning $1 million for surpassing a long-standing world record earlier this year. For Proud, seeing those results sparked new motivation. “Suddenly the fastest man in the water isn’t in the traditional format anymore,” he said. That realisation pushed him to rethink his career and pursue what he calls the “outer edge of human potential.”
Reactions within the swimming community are mixed. Some teammates have questioned his choice, while others close to him have offered quiet support. Proud himself insists he feels content with what he’s already achieved in clean sport. Now, he’s ready to step away and embrace a new, controversial chapter — one that is bound to keep sparking debate long after the inaugural Enhanced Games begin.
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