James Magnussen will take performance enhancing supplement to break a world record and win $1.5m

James Magnussen was a world champion without the help of performance enhancing drugs but will now try to see how fast he can swim with them.

James Magnussen will try to win $1.5 million EPA/PATRICK B. KRAEMER

Former Australian swimming star James Magnussen has will being 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 Enhanced Games were founded by Australian Aron D’Souza who confirmed on Friday he would guarantee the prize with the timings for the event yet to be confirmed.

D’Souza launched his vision for the Enhance Games which would allow competitors to compete without drug testing adamant much of the world’s best athletes already use “performance enhancements”

“It is time to safely celebrate science,” their website reads.

“Sports can be safer without drug testing.”

We're pleased to announce that Olympian James Magnussen has accepted the challenge to compete in the first Enhanced Games. $1m prize for breaking the 50 freestyle swimming world record. More details to come.

— Enhanced Games (@enhanced_games) February 8, 2024

Magnussen, who retired from swimming in 2019 having won Olympic and World Championship medals, said he would do his research and undertake a supplement program that would allow him to pursue the record “safely, properly” and create “an athlete we haven’t seen before”.

“I thought it was an interesting concept when I first heard it… we’re pretty aware as Olympians in Australia that there is performance enhancements going on in other countries, Australia is well known for being one of if not the cleanest in the Olympic Games…” Magnussen said. said.

“But it’s not a level playing field internationally and we know that… I thought for the right price this would be a very interesting pursuit.”

“As for his supplement program, Magnussen said he’d follow expert advice.

“I want to approach this the right way, I want to go to America, I want to get the right advice and take the right supplements. I don’t know much about that world so I want to do my research and have the right team behind me and with the help of Aron, I’d like to document it through video form. Show how it can be done safely, properly and create an athlete we haven’t seen before.”

D’Souza told SEN Magnussen “deserved millions for the extraordinary feats they have accomplished and we are willing to do so.”

Originally published as James Magnussen will take performance enhancing supplement to break a world record and win $1.5m