Australian swimmer James Magnussen slammed for taking part in steroid-fueled Enhanced Games: 'Disgraceful example to set for children'

James Magnussen draws criticism for pledge to 'juice'Commentators call it 'irresponsible' and 'disgraceful'Magnussen confirmed he will take part in 'Steroid Games'

Commentators have turned on Aussie Olympian James Magnussen after his announcement that he will compete in the Enhanced Games, where steroid use is allowed and actively encouraged.

He will start a program of performance-enhancing supplements in the quest to break the 50m world record and win $1.5m after accepting a challenge from the founder of the Enhanced Games.

The Games were founded by Australian Aron D’Souza, who confirmed on Friday that he would guarantee the prize, with the timing for the event yet to be confirmed.

D’Souza launched his vision for the Enhance Games that would allow competitors to compete without drug testing, adamant many of the world’s best athletes already use ‘performance enhancements’.

‘It is time to safely celebrate science,’ the Enhance Games website reads.

Aussie Olympian James Magnussen has been criticised for wanting to take part in the controversial Enhanced Games

At the Enhanced Games, steroid use by athletes is not only allowed, but actively encouraged

‘Sports can be safer without drug testing.’

Magnussen told Hello Sport podcast that he’s happy to ‘juice to the gills’  if the price is right.

‘They’ve said they’ve got a billion-dollar person backing them. If they put up a million dollars for the 50 freestyle world record, I will come on board as their first athlete,’ Magnussen said.

‘I’ll juice to the gills and I’ll break it within six months.’

But the move has drawn criticism from others who believe the his world record pledge is ‘irresponsible’.

‘Well, my view is it’s irresponsible for the very fact there are millions of people who have looked up to him during his career,’ AFL legend Adam Cooney told SEN.

‘I also think there are ramifications there with your health… it could all work out well but you are putting yourself at risk.

‘I would say that 90-95 per cent of the population would put their hand up and do that (for the money), they’re not going to get anywhere near a world record obviously, but it is pretty enticing.

The Aussie swimming great says he will ‘juice to the gills’ and break the world record

‘My immediate response was it’s a little bit tacky and a bit irresponsible because there are things that can go wrong… he’ll probably be fine.

‘But again, it does open it up to the local footy player who see James Magnussen getting on the gear and breaking a world record and thinking, ‘WADA aren’t coming to test me on a Saturday afternoon at Doncaster, I’m going to get the best out of myself here and by something online’.

‘That’s when it’s dangerous. I don’t like it.’

Former NRL star Martin Lang took to social media to comment on the issue.

‘A disgraceful example to set for children and aspiring young athletes,’ he wrote on X.

‘A competition comprised of former athletes looking to cash in & stay relevant or B-grade athletes who failed to achieve in the first place. What a joke.’

Journalist Suzanne Mostyn was also very critical of Magnussen and the concept of the Enhanced Games.

‘He is going for gold in terms of the 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 is an entrepreneur, he says he wants to test the limits of human endeavour, but I just think that is glossing over what it really is.

‘This is the ‘grotesque games’. You have condoms full of walnuts walking around saying, ‘I am the best’. (These are) the Roid Rage Games.’

‘It is really questionable … We are going back to Roman times, aren’t we? Where the elite and the rich said, ‘hey, mere mortals, entertain me.’ I think it is pretty sick.’