Former Australian swimming champion James Magnussen says he is ready to take doping substances to beat the world record in the 50m freestyle and pocket a reward of one million dollars (1.08 million EUR).
The 32-year-old swimmer, world champion in the 100m freestyle in 2011 and 2013, plans to come out of retirement to participate in the
“
Enhanced Games”, where there will be no doping control, effectively authorizing participants to use prohibited substances.
Magnussen, withdrawn from the pools since 2018, would be the first big name to join this very controversial project, launched in 2023 by Australian businessman Aron D'Souza, not subject to the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency and whose performances cannot be approved.
“If someone had asked me to do this during my swimming career, my answer would have been completely different than it is today, having retired from the sport for six years
,” he wrote in a column for The Australian newspaper on Saturday.
To be completely transparent, money plays an important role.
A price tag of AU$1.6 million is hard to ignore.
Retired athletes don’t have such opportunities every day.”
“I want to be surrounded by good doctors and good medical support”
Brazilian Cesar Cielo has held the 50m freestyle record in 20 sec 91/100 seconds since 2009, when he set it wearing a high-tech aerodynamic supersuit that has since been banned.
Magnussen, whose personal best is 21.52, insisted he would take no risks with his health.
“I want to be surrounded by good doctors and good medical support.
I want to do it correctly
,” he explained.
Backed by venture capitalists, the
"Enhanced Games"
, the date and location of which have not yet been announced, is expected to include five main categories: athletics, aquatics, gymnastics, strength and combat.