Irish swimmer Max McCusker has become the second Irish Olympic swimmer to sign up for the controversial Enhanced Games, a new competition that allows athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs without drug testing.
Earlier this year, fellow Irish swimmer Shane Ryan also joined the games after retiring from competitive swimming, a move that was strongly criticised by Swim Ireland. McCusker, who represented Ireland at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has now followed the same path.
Other well-known athletes, including Team GB swimmer Ben Proud, Greek Olympian Kristian Gkolomeev and American sprinter Fred Kerley, are also set to take part.
The first Enhanced Games are planned for Las Vegas in 2026. Each event will offer prize money of $500,000, and athletes who break world records could earn up to $1 million.
McCusker competed in the men’s 4x100m medley relay at the Paris Olympics and has broken Irish records in the 100m butterfly several times over the past year.
The current 100m butterfly world records are held by Caeleb Dressel (long course) and Josh Liendo (short course).
