Brownlow Medalist Adam Cooney has called out James Magnussen for an “irresponsible” decision to compete in the controversial Enhanced Games.
Magnussen became the Games’ biggest signing when revealing to SEN that he had taken on the challenge to break the 50-metre world record and win USD$1 million.
The games – which do not yet have a formal date or venue – have divided opinion due to their revolutionary stance on performance-enhancing drugs, encouraging athletes to use modern science to enhance their abilities.
Drug tests therefore don’t exist, with organisers believing their format will be the Olympics of the future.
Magnussen split the public with his announcement yesterday, but Cooney says he isn’t a fan.
“So he’s a world champion swimmer anyway, you would have thought over his career he would have accumulated enough endorsements to not want put his body through a doping regime for a cash grab. Is it a bit tacky? Or is it a bit dangerous even?” the 2008 Brownlow Medalist began on SEN's Sportsday.
Magnussen, now 32 years old, has admitted the money is the key lure for an athlete now five years retired. However, the dual world champion, who was just 0.1 of a second off a gold medal in the 2012 London Olympics, also believes by documenting the experiment he can help athletes globally “approach science with their eyes wide open”.
He has committed to taking on the best medical advice throughout his training, including heading overseas.
But Cooney believes that Magnussen’s situation cannot be extrapolated beyond professional athletes and says it will prove dangerous for others who see his journey.
“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,” Cooney explained.
“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.
“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.”
The Enhanced Games have the backing of several billionaires and also preach paying athletes far more than they currently earn, with President Aron D’Souza stating: “People like James deserve to earn millions for the extraordinary feats they have accomplished and we are willing to do so”.