Australian Olympic chief Mark Arbib whacks 'dangerous and risky' Enhanced Games venture

Australian Olympic Committee chief Mark Arbib has described the Enhanced Games as "dangerous" after the concept came back into the spotlight following the men's 50m freestyle record being unofficially broken.

Former Olympian, Kristian Gkolomeev, achieved the feat in February by touching the wall in 20.89. He won the $1.5m on offer from founder Aron D'Souza while Aussie James Magnussen missed out.

Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, Arbib addressed the current interest in the Enhanced Games.

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"It's a dangerous and risky venture," Arbib said.

"People need to remember drugs in sport are banned primarily for health reasons. We care about the welfare of the athletes. We care about the welfare of the community. Taking drugs can negatively impact your health, but it can also lead to death.

"So any event that is promoting the use of performance enhancing drugs, promoting the use of steroids, is not something that we would ever be associated with or sanction.

"It's the complete opposite of what the Olympic movement stands for. We stand for a level playing field. We stand for the principles of Olympism. And this venture, this commercial venture, is about making money and about undermining the global anti-drug enforcement strategies and networks that are in place."

The Enhanced Games will be launched next year in Las Vegas with a number of Olympic events part of it, including swimming.

The US$1 million prize will be on offer again if anyone breaks the 100m or 50m freestyle record.

Where it gets murky is athletes will be paid appearance fees. This means Olympians could enter and stay clean but still collect a cheque.

The Herald reported Arbib said he hadn't had discussions about banning Aussie athletes from competing.

"But I know what Cam McEvoy, one of our Olympic gold medallists, said today: that if they're taking drugs, if they're taking steroids, then these records don't count," he explained.

"Again, this is a dangerous commercial venture, and it's something that the whole of the Olympic movement frowns upon. And we hope that all our athletes view this in a negative connotation and do not get involved."

WADA has also released a statement describing the Enhanced Games as a "dangerous and irresponsible concept".

"Over the years, there have been many examples of athletes suffering serious long-term side-effects from their use of prohibited substances and methods. Some have died," the statement read.

"This is one area that should unite all Anti-Doping Organisations and governments around the world, not least in the US where the event is now scheduled to take place. We invite all our clean sport partners, including athletes, to join us in condemning this event regardless of its wealthy and influential supporters.

"It has become clear from the event's launch in Las Vegas that a focus of the organisers is to sell their products and to play down the associated risks. Inducing elite athletes to use their profiles to promote the use of prohibited and potentially dangerous substances is harmful, in particular for young athletes."