Former Australian hockey player Simon Orchard has criticised James Magnussen’s decision to compete in the Enhanced Games and believes the concept will cause more harm than good.
The Enhanced Games is a proposed Olympic-style event which will allow athletes to take performance enhancing supplements. Founder Aron D’Souza offered Magnussen over AUD$1.5 million if he were to break the 50-metre freestyle world record.
“It’s time to reward the athletes and pay them for their excellence,” D’Souza told SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“People like James deserve to earn millions for the feats they have accomplished.”
SEN EXCLUSIVE | @james_maggie91 agrees to compete in the @enhanced_games after founder agrees to a $1 million prize if he breaks a world record. #EnhancedGames pic.twitter.com/JBZanQtcLn
— Vossy & Brandy SEN 1170AM Sydney (@VossyBrandySEN) February 8, 2024
Orchard, who competed in the 2012 London Olympics for the Kookaburras, said the Enhanced Games cheapened competitive sports as a product.
“He’s thrown a cat amongst the pigeons,” Orchard said of Magnussen on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“When I heard this story break, I thought it sounded like wrestling.
“As soon as I found out that wrestling was fake, I turned it off.
"I used to watch the Tour de France night after night until I knew it wasn’t real and they were taking enhanced supplements.
“As a sports person, I found that really dissatisfying. This is an amazing gimmick that Aron D’Souza has concocted.
“I think the Missile (Magnussen) is the Undertaker. He’s risen from the dead and has joined something that he should stay well clear of.
“It sends a terrible message to a lot of youngsters as well.
“All it takes is for one kid to take the wrong thing at the wrong time and have their dreams shattered and life ruined.
“We don’t know what goes into a lot of these (supplements) and what if someone were to drop dead.
“I know that’s a drastic way of looking at it but it’s my first thought on Enhanced Games.”
READ MORE: Former Aussie star accepts revolutionary challenge with $1.5 million on the line.