By Tom Decent
Cam McEvoy, the fastest man in the world through water, has warned of the potential long-term health risks of performance-enhancing drugs after being challenged by former teammate James Magnussen to compete in the controversial Enhanced Games.
McEvoy, who won gold for Australia in the 50m freestyle at last year’s Paris Olympics, said he was concerned by what the proposed competition stands for and what it could do to those who take part.
“It doesn’t count in any way, shape or form when you take drugs or wear one of the banned suits, or both,” McEvoy told this masthead.
“It’s got no relevance to Olympic or World Championship 50-metre comps, or to the international rankings around them.”
McEvoy’s comments come as World Aquatics branded the Enhanced Games a “circus” and the Australian Olympic Committee distanced itself from the event, which will debut in Las Vegas next May and feature swimming, athletics and weightlifting.
The Enhanced Games will allow clean athletes to compete alongside those using performance-enhancing substances in pursuit of world records and financial prizes.
James Magnussen (left) and Cam McEvoy (right) at the 2016 Rio Olympics.Credit: AP
“If I was Cam, and I was going to be able to put a suit on and race for $US1 million [$1.56 million] – plus be paid as an athlete – for me, it would be a no-brainer,” Magnussen said.
“At this point for Cam, he sees it like a sideshow. If you stayed in the testing pool the whole time [by continually agreeing to take drug tests], then it shouldn’t be an issue. It seems like a free hit.”
James Magnussen after taking performance-enhancing substances.Credit: Enhanced Games
Since February last year, when Magnussen initially voiced his interest in trying to break the 50m freestyle world record with a lucrative prize on offer, McEvoy has remained silent on the polarising concept.
McEvoy, who won a gold medal in the 50m freestyle event at the 2023 World Championships before standing atop the podium in Paris, wouldn’t be drawn on Magnussen’s comments but said he held major fears over the long-term medical effects of doping.
“Another angle that concerns me is the unknown potential cost this has to the athletes long-term,” McEvoy said. “I understand there are some measures being put in place around the safety of those athletes throughout this process.
“But there are long-term negative health effects associated with maximised PEDs [performance-enhancing drugs] and further still, a lot of unknowns around just how serious those effects are.
“Humans in the past have underestimated what they don’t yet fully understand. For example, a quick look at the early misuse of radioactive materials serves as a warning. I am by no means an expert, but it seems unwise to think that in this context the prioritisation of performance over safety is immune to this same hubris.”
Greek Olympian Kristian Gkolomeev went under the 50m freestyle world record in a secret attempt after taking banned drugs, but was wearing a suit that would not be allowed at major competitions.
Magnussen’s best time during his recent attempts was 22.73 seconds, nearly two seconds off Cesar Cielo’s proper world record of 2009, which was done in a now illegal supersuit.
Magnussen’s mark was slower than that of 17-year-old Australian rising star Josh Conias, who clocked a 50m freestyle time of 22.35 at the Australian championships in April.
“Obviously, you can have a lot of help from the drugs in terms of finishing out the race and having the strength and metabolic capacity to do that,” McEvoy said. “But you can’t dope technique and technique is extremely important in swimming, especially sprint.
“That’s one thing that’s going to be a huge bottleneck for those guys, especially Maggie, being a 100 [freestyle] guy. Unless you have someone who is already world-class in the 50m or you use technologically advanced suits, or both.”
Meanwhile, World Aquatics has taken a swipe at the Enhanced Games’ attempt to lure some of the fastest swimmers on the planet.
“The Enhanced Games are not a sporting competition built on universal values like honesty, fairness and equity: they are a circus, built on shortcuts,” the governing body said in a statement.
“The way to a long, healthy and happy sporting life is readily available. It doesn’t require a costly cocktail of anti-ageing drugs. Train consistently, eat well, rest well and enjoy the company of other athletes.
“This is something we already know from the millions of masters swimmers who continue to regularly set new records for human performance at the World Masters Aquatics Masters Championships, some aged over 100.
“We invite the world to come and learn from these true champions as they compete again in Singapore [at the world championships] this summer.”
The AOC declined to comment when contacted about news of the Enhanced Games.
Olympic supremo and former AOC John Coates said last year of the venture: “I’m not going there. I’m not entering any debate on this. The Olympic movement’s position against the use of performance-enhancing drugs is very clear.”
Meanwhile, Sport Integrity Australia has reaffirmed its opposition to the Enhanced Games.
“SIA condemns competitions that promote drug use and doping methods in sport, particularly those that may seek to exploit athletes for financial gain and influence,” SIA chief executive Dr Sarah Benson said.
“Of particular concern is the message this sends to young athletes participating at all levels of sport around the world – that it is ok to take performance enhancing drugs. Which it is not”.