'This is life': British swimmer says Enhanced Games prize money 'too good to turn down'

Olympic swimmer Ben Proud announced on Wednesday he would be signing up for the Games, which allows athletes to take banned performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision.

The 30-year-old, who won silver in the 50-metre freestyle at the Paris Games and World Championships gold in 2022, told LBC News he made the move to "secure myself and my family for a long time".

He will be offered appearance fees by the games' organisers, along with a $1m bonus if he breaks a world record.

And a "simple win" would see the British record holder bank $250,000, a sum which would take him "13 years of winning World Championship titles".

"We don't earn that much money yet. We commit our entire lives and everything to the sport," he told LBC's Steve Holden.

"And so I think they [his fellow athletes] can look at me and understand my current situation. I'm about to turn 31, and they can rationally understand that this is a good opportunity and it doesn't come by that often."

Following his controversial announcement, Aquatics GB said it "condemned Ben's decision in the strongest terms".

The sporting body had offered him up to £29,000 this year as part of their World Class Programme, where he was placed on the podium list, which "supports athletes possessing genuine and strong medal potential at the next Olympic Games in LA 2028".

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Anti Doping association chief exec Jane Rumble added that it was "incredibly disappointing" that any British athlete would consider competing in an event that "flies in the face of the true spirit of sport".

Proud, who has retired from swimming as a result of the move, said he understood the criticism and was aware he would "lose friendships" over his decision, but believed it was worth it to "bring me closer to my family".

"Like every change in industry is going to come with losing connections and drifting away. And that's something that you just have to accept and you know, this is life," he said.

"But ultimately I'm really happy because this is going to bring me closer to my family, which I've had to spend many years living away from to focus on the sport. I think having the support from them has been the most rewarding thing during this."

Proud's sport will be one of three - along with sprinting and weightlifting - that make up the inaugural Games, which is set to take place in Las Vegas from 21-24 May 2026.

The Brit has stressed he is "not under any obligation to take anything" and would not "risk my health" to win races.

Only substances approved by the United States' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can be taken, which is different from the list the World Anti Doping Association allows for elite athletes.

"I've got complete control over what I do," he added.

"If I choose not to take anything, that's completely okay. So I've got the next couple of months to really learn about what it is that's available to us.

"Everything that is available to us is currently legal and available to the public through prescriptions.

"And I'll be able to learn the pros and cons, the benefits and also potential side effects. And from that, using the best specialists we have, I can make the very best informed decision for myself."