Australian swimmer James Magnussen slammed for taking part in steroid-fueled Enhanced Games: ‘Disgraceful example to set for children’
- James Magnussen is criticized for promising ‘juice’
- Commentators call it ‘irresponsible’ and ‘disgraceful’
- Magnussen confirms he will participate in ‘Steroid Games’
Commentators have turned against Aussie Olympian James Magnussen following his announcement that he will compete in the Enhanced Games, where steroid use is permitted and actively encouraged.
He will embark on a program of performance-enhancing supplements in the quest to break the 50m world record and win $1.5 million after accepting a challenge from the founder of the Enhanced Games.
The Games were founded by Australian Aron D’Souza, who confirmed on Friday he would guarantee the prize, while the timing for the event is yet to be confirmed.
D’Souza launched his vision for the Enhance Games that would allow competitors to compete without drug testing, with many of the world’s best athletes already using ‘performance enhancements’.
“It’s time to celebrate science safely,” the Enhance Games website reads.
Aussie Olympian James Magnussen has been criticized for wanting to compete in the controversial Enhanced Games
At the Enhanced Games, steroid use by athletes is not only permitted, but actively encouraged
‘Sports can be safer without drug testing.’
Magnussen told the Hello Sport podcast that he would like to ‘go to the gills’ if the price is right.
“They’ve said they’re worth a billion dollars backing them. “If they bet a million dollars on the 50 freestyle world record, I’ll come on board as their first athlete,” Magnussen said.
“I’ll suck out the gills and in six months I’ll break it.”
But the move has drawn criticism from others who believe his world record promise is ‘irresponsible’.
“Well, my view is that it’s irresponsible, precisely because there are millions of people who have looked up to him throughout his career,” AFL legend Adam Cooney told SEN.
‘I also think there are consequences for your health… it could all end well, but you’re putting yourself at risk.
“I’d say 90-95 percent of the population would raise their hands and do that (for the money). Obviously they’re not close to a world record, but it’s pretty enticing.
The Australian swimming star says he will ‘flow to the gills’ and break the world record
“My immediate reaction was that it’s a bit tacky and a bit irresponsible because there are things that can go wrong… he’ll probably be fine.
‘But again, it does open the door for the local footballer who sees James Magnussen putting on the kit and breaking a world record and thinks, ‘WADA isn’t coming to test me on a Saturday afternoon in Doncaster, I’m going to get the best out of here and through something online to get out of myself’.
‘Then it is dangerous. I do not like it.’
Former NRL star Martin Lang took to social media to comment on the issue.
“A shameful example for children and ambitious young athletes,” he wrote on X.
“A league made up of former athletes who want to make money and stay relevant, or B-tier athletes who didn’t make it in the first place. What a joke.’
Journalist Suzanne Mostyn was also highly critical of Magnussen and the concept of the Enhanced Games.
“He goes for gold when it comes to money, he wants that big brass ring, and I think a lot of people probably want to find their glory this way,” Mostyn told Weekend Sunrise.
“The founder of this, he’s an entrepreneur, he says he wants to test the limits of human endeavor, but I think that obscures what it really is.
‘These are the ‘grotesque plays’. There are condoms full of walnuts walking around that say, “I’m the best.” (These are) the Roid Rage Games.”
‘It’s really questionable… We’re going back to Roman times, aren’t we? Where the elite and the wealthy said, “Hey, mere mortals, entertain me.” I think it’s pretty sick.”