Irish swimmer Shane Ryan would be making a "huge mistake" if he goes through with his intention to join the Enhanced Games, according to former Olympian Nick O'Hare.
The Enhanced Games are a controversial competition that permits athletes to take banned performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision, with the first edition to take place in May 2026 at a purpose-built complex in Las Vegas.
The complex will have a four-lane 50m pool, a six-lane sprint track, and a weightlifting stage.
In June, World Aquatics announced it will ban athletes, coaches and officials from its events if they take part in the Enhanced Games.
Explaining his motivation to participate, Ryan said in his announcement on Monday that he had "always wanted to know the absolute maximum of what my body is truly capable of", adding that "here, with the focus on athlete health, safety, and transparency, I finally get that chance".
Speaking to Darren Frehill on RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland, Irish Olympian O'Hare, who swam at the Atlanta 1996 Games, said Ryan may end up ultimately regretting the decision to opt into the Enhanced Games.
"I think it's a huge mistake and probably something that he's going to regret in the long term," said O'Hare.
Each event at the Enhanced Games will have a total prize purse of $500,000 (€432,000), with $250,000 (€216,000) awarded to the winner. There'll also be $1m (€864,000) on offer for competitors who break world records in the 100m sprint on the track and 50m freestyle in the pool.
Discussing the prevailing arguments that will be made for and against Ryan's participation in the wider world, O'Hare said the financial appeal was a significant factor but that it should not make partaking feel worthwhile considering the wider implications.
"There will be two views on this predominately. One will be that he didn't make a lot of money when he was swimming and after eight to ten years of full-time swimming that he deserves to earn as much as he can. I don't subscribe to that. I think it's wrong," said O'Hare.
"Look at the impact that this will make both short term and long term. We spoke already about the ethos of sport and it doesn't fit with that.
"You've also got a three-time Olympian who kids in Ireland idolise and put on a pedestal and now he's turning around and he's saying, 'OK, I'm going to take (performance enhancing) drugs.'"
O'Hare added: "But also for him as an individual, for him it's quite shortsighted. If you look at the event, he'll be swimming against the likes of Ben Proud, who won the silver medal at the Olympic Games in Paris, James Magnussen who was a 100 metre world champion on two occasions.
"So the likelihood of him winning the $250,000 is remote. So he may come out with a couple of hundred thousand but I think if you look at his career going forward, is he looking at getting into coaching going forward, which a lot of retired swimmers do? That would certainly impinge very negatively on his prospects of securing a coaching position."
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he is disappointed to see that the Irish swimmer has been announced as a participant in the Enhanced Games.
Speaking outside Government buildings this morning he said he believes it sends "the wrong message" to young people.
"I'm very disappointed with that. I would have a fundamental principle that drugs should not be used in sports, performance enhancing drugs should not be used in sports.
"I just think this is going to the extremes in terms of the utilisation of drugs, which can be harmful to the body, and it just sends out the wrong message to young people and to children engaging in sport."
