Ben Proud joins Enhanced Games, ending Olympic ambitions

Ben Proud, a 30-year-old British sprint specialist and Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalist, announced on Wednesday that he will compete at the inaugural Enhanced Games, a controversial event that permits the use of performance-enhancing substances. The Games are scheduled to be held in Las Vegas in May 2026, and Proud said the move marks his departure from the traditional Olympic pathway and international competition under World Aquatics.

Proud, who won silver in the 50 metre freestyle at the 2024 Olympics and again at the 2025 World Championships, said in a statement that his ambition has always been to be the fastest man on the planet and that the Enhanced Games offers "a chance to test the limits of human potential with the tools and possibilities of our time." He told reporters and in an interview that, at age 30, he was seeking fresh motivation and viewed the new format as a way to re-ignite his career. He added that he has not yet committed to taking any particular substances and will use the coming months to learn about the Games' rules, medical protocols and recovery options.

The decision has immediate competitive and financial consequences. World Aquatics this year...