Olympic Medalist Ben Proud Joins Enhanced Games, Retires from Traditional Swimming

Ben Proud, an Olympic silver medalist and multiple-time world champion swimmer, has announced his retirement from traditional swimming to compete in the inaugural Enhanced Games in May 2026, an event that permits the use of FDA-approved performance-enhancing drugs. Proud aims to push the limits of human potential using these substances, despite the International Olympic Committee and World Anti-Doping Agency's opposition and the consequent ban imposed by World Aquatics on athletes who participate. The Enhanced Games, founded by Aron D'Souza, will feature Olympic-style events and offer substantial prize money, with $250,000 per event and $1 million for breaking world records. Proud joins other elite swimmers such as Kristian Gkolomeev, James Magnussen, and Megan Romano in this controversial competition. The event has faced criticism from anti-doping authorities and sports officials, including World Athletics president Lord Coe, who warned competitors of lengthy bans. The Enhanced Games seek to challenge traditional views on doping by providing medical supervision and allowing only approved substances, excluding illicit drugs like cocaine and heroin.