Olympic Gold Medalist Hunter Armstrong to Swim in 2026 Enhanced Games, Says He Won't Take PEDs
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Hunter Armstrong made an interesting decision in his quest to prepare for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Per ESPN's Dan Murphy, Armstrong will return to competition in May at the Enhanced Games, an organization that allows, but doesn't require, athletes to compete while using banned substances. Armstrong told Murphy that he plans to compete without taking performance-enhancing drugs, and he feels that he should remain eligible for a spot on future U.S. Olympic rosters as long as he continues to comply with the drug-testing program for World Aquatics' athletes.
Armstrong went on to explain that joining Enhanced Games is his only option to stay active ahead of the 2028 Olympics. Murphy noted that he had "no way to pay his bills" after one of his main sponsors ended their relationship last summer, and he even considered retirement.
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"If I don't join Enhanced, I lose everything. If I do join Enhanced, I have a chance at not losing everything," Armstrong said. "My back was against the wall, so I had to reopen that conversation to see if it was a plausible option."
Enhanced Games pays its athletes a salary and offers $250,000 to anyone who takes first place in an event and large bonuses to anyone who breaks a world record. Armstrong, who was once the world-record holder in the 50-meter backstroke, said he plans to race in the 50-meter backstroke and the 100-meter freestyle events.
The 25-year-old added that he didn't receive a definitive answer from World Aquatics regarding his eligibility after he spoke to officials about signing with Enhanced Games.
"Nobody really knows what's going to happen, and nobody will give me an answer on what's going to happen," Armstrong said. "So all I can work off of is what the rules say and take a chance because I won't get an answer by waiting."
The first Enhanced Games will be held on May 24 in Las Vegas, featuring roughly 40 athletes competing in swimming, sprinting and weightlifting.
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