Ben Proud, a world champion swimmer and silver medalist in Paris final summer time, introduced Wednesday he was quitting his Olympic profession to race in profitable occasions that permit steroids and different efficiency medicine.
Proud, from Nice Britain, said on Instagram that he has the chance “to pursue one thing distinctive that excites me in a brand new method. .. This isn’t the tip of my journey. It’s the start of a brand new chapter.”
The primary Enhanced competitors subsequent Might in Las Vegas pays $250,000 to the winner of the 50-meter occasion and $1 million for breaking the world report, The Athletic reported. The identical incentives apply for the 100-meter dash in monitor and discipline. Weightlifting can even be contested.
“My ambition has all the time been to be the quickest man on the planet,” Proud mentioned in a launch Wednesday, per The Athletic. “I wish to deal with efficiency at its highest degree. … The Enhanced Video games provides me that likelihood — to check the bounds of human potential with the instruments and prospects of our time.” ”
Aquatics GB mentioned on Instagram it was “immensely upset” and “condemns Ben’s resolution within the strongest phrases.”
The World Anti-Doping Company had beforehand branded the Enhanced Video games as a “harmful and irresponsible idea,” the BBC reported.
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However Proud pushed again on the considerations over his well-being.
“Well being might be the largest factor that folks speak about, however I’m very sure that nothing I do will influence me long run, primarily based on all of the protocols I’ve been advised about and the way they’re going to handle it,” he advised The Athletic. “I really feel like I’m within the most secure place for this.”
