‘I’ll juice to the gills’ – Ex-world champion James Magnussen to attempt world record while doping

Former world champion James Magnussen says he will “juice to the gills” in a bid to break a world record while taking banned performance-enhancing drugs.

The Australian, who was 100m freestyle world champion in 2011 and 2013 and an Olympic silver medallist in 2012, will compete in the ‘Enhanced Games’ where there are no drug tests or doping restrictions.

He is aiming to break the 50m freestyle world record of 20.91 seconds set by Brazil’s Cesar Cielo in 2009 – although the performance-enhancing, non-textile swimsuit he wore for that swim was later banned.

Magnussen, 32, will come out of retirement and be paid $1 million (£792,000) for the attempt, which will not count as an official record.

"I'll juice to the gills and I'll break it in six months," said Magnussen.

Magnussen’s personal best over the distance is 21.52 seconds, set 11 years ago. He retired from the sport in 2019.

The Enhanced Games was set up by his compatriot, businessman Aron D’Souza, last year.

"I thought it was an interesting concept from the first time I heard it," Magnussen said to SEN radio.

"We're pretty aware as Olympians, particularly in Australia, that performance enhancements are going on in other countries, but it's not a level playing field internationally.

"I want to go to America, I want to get the right advice and take the right supplements.

"I'd like to document it through video form. Show how it can be done safely, properly, and create an athlete we haven't seen before."

Magnussen is the first athlete to publicly declare interest in competing in the controversial event.

D’Souza’s Enhanced Games idea has come in for criticism from the UK Anti-Doping Agency, who said last year it was “extremely concerned by the concept.”

"The premise of sports competitions that allow performance enhancing drugs is unsafe, dangerous to athletes' health and wellbeing, and flies in the face of fair play," said the body.

But D’Souza has no intention of slowing down his plans and said his “phone is blowing up” with interested athletes.

“Magnussen has the potential to show us what the human body, improved through science, is truly capable of,” he said.

“Whilst we have not spoken with James yet, we wish to publicly confirm the prize money that will inspire him and many other Olympic heroes to join the Enhanced movement.

“I do not doubt that James Magnussen, so known for his tenacity, determination and giant six foot seven inches form, can break swimming’s most important world record.

“We will write James Magnussen a US$1m cheque for breaking the 50 metre freestyle world record at the Enhanced Games.

“There will be multiple million-dollar prizes at the first Enhanced Games.

“The first enhanced athlete to publicly break Usain Bolt’s [100 metre sprint] world record will also get at least US$1m.”

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