Arbib’s warning to Australian Olympians about Enhanced Games

Though Arbib stopped short of saying the AOC would place a ban on any Australian athletes from taking part in the Enhanced Games, he strongly discouraged any of them from doing so.

“We haven’t had discussions [about that],” he said.

“But I know what Cam McEvoy, one of our Olympic gold medalists, said today: that if they’re taking drugs, if they’re taking steroids, then these records don’t count.

“Again, this is a dangerous commercial venture, and it’s something that the whole of the Olympic movement frowns upon. And we hope that all our athletes view this in a negative connotation and do not get involved.”

On the involvement of former Olympian James Magnussen, who has become one of the faces of the Enhanced Games after taking a cocktail of drugs and peptides in a failed attempt to break the men’s 50m freestyle world record, Arbib said: “It’s a decision for him.”

The World Anti-Doping Agency, meanwhile, has condemned the Enhanced Games as a “dangerous and irresponsible concept” that would jeopardise the health and well-being of athletes. In a statement, WADA said that any athletes or support personnel who did take part would do so at the risk of committing anti-doping offences, as well as their own reputations – and that those who did would be target-tested before, during and afterwards to “protect the integrity of legitimate sport”.

“Over the years, there have been many examples of athletes suffering serious long-term side-effects from their use of prohibited substances and methods. Some have died,” the statement said.

“This is one area that should unite all Anti-Doping Organisations and governments around the world, not least in the U.S. where the event is now scheduled to take place. We invite all our clean sport partners, including athletes, to join us in condemning this event regardless of its wealthy and influential supporters.

Loading

“It has become clear from the event’s launch in Las Vegas that a focus of the organisers is to sell their products and to play down the associated risks. Inducing elite athletes to use their profiles to promote the use of prohibited and potentially dangerous substances is harmful, in particular for young athletes.”