'Divorced themselves from the sport': Aussie Olympian backs ruthless call on Enhanced Games athletes

Australian Olympic gold medallist Mack Horton has backed the decision from World Aquatics to ban Enhanced Games athletes, stating it doesn't set a good example for the next generation.

Horton's comments come after fellow Australian Olympian Kyle Chalmers avoided getting in a tit-for-tat, simply expressing his hopes it leads to better prizemoney.

Horton, who retired in 2024, swum at the 2016 Olympics on the same team as James Magnussen, who has been the face of the controversial concept.

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Last week, World Aquatics made the call that athletes like Magnussen wouldn't be allowed to compete in events. The same goes for officials.

Horton said he is "all for the ban".

"Essentially they've already divorced themselves from the sport by going and participating in the Enhanced Games," he said on Nine's Wide World of Sports.

"Essentially they're saying we don't want a part of what a traditional sport is, we want to go and do this. Go do your own thing I say."

Watch the 2025 Australian swimming trials live and free on Nine and 9Now, taking place from June 9-14.

Horton was then asked if he'd have taken up the opportunity in his prime.

"No because I don't want my jaw to look like a human growth hormone," he laughed.

"So much of being an athlete is inspiring the next generation and being a good role model for kids and I don't know if any of this does that."

Meanwhile, Chalmers has also entered the debate, telling AAP he wouldn't be criticising Magnussen.

"James is one of my really great mates so I'm definitely not going to knock him for going across there," he said.

However, Chalmers did offer his opinion on the prizemoney aspect with participants set to earn $500,000 per event at Las Vegas in May next year.

"That is something that is hard in our sport, there's not a huge amount of money or prize money on offer and we kind of do it for the love of it.

"So I am not going to be a person that slams swimmers for wanting to go across and make some money and give themselves a better opportunity in life or set their families up."