Olympic Champion Alex Yee Voices Alarm Over 'Dangerous' Enhanced Games
Olympic triathlon gold medallist Alex Yee has publicly outlined his profound concerns regarding the health and safety of athletes participating in the controversial Enhanced Games. The breakaway competition, scheduled for its inaugural staging in May, permits the use of performance-enhancing drugs and offers substantial financial rewards for breaking world records.
Yee's Grave Concerns for Athlete Well-being
Yee, who secured a memorable triathlon victory at the Paris Olympics, admitted he "probably wouldn't" watch the Enhanced Games and expressed deep fears for the participants. "My first emotion is it seems quite dangerous," Yee stated. "There's a reason why substances are banned and it's the priority to health and well-being of athletes, primarily."
He elaborated on his worries, highlighting the potential for serious harm. "You are concerned that it could be a matter of time before something more serious does happen as a result of something like this. My primary concern is for the well-being of the athletes that are taking on this risk for financial benefit."
Yee suggested the event's appeal stems from financial pressures in some sports. "It sadly comes as a consequence of there being, in some sports, little to no financial incentive. You then look to how you can make it viable for people to be able to make money in clean and natural sports which they aspire to do as a young person athlete watching the Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games."
British Athletes Sign Up Amidst Controversy
The Enhanced Games has already attracted several high-profile British athletes. Swimmer Emily Barclay recently became the third Briton to sign up, following sprinter Reece Prescod and swimmer Ben Proud. This move has intensified the debate around the ethics and dangers of the competition.
Yee's Focus on Inspiration and London Return
While concerned about the Enhanced Games, Yee is preparing to provide positive inspiration in his own sport. The World Triathlon Championship Series returns to London in July for the first time since 2015, offering Yee a chance to race in his home city.
The 27-year-old is returning to triathlon this year after a 12-month focus on marathon running. In December, he clocked an impressive 2:06.38 in Valencia, the second-fastest time ever by a British athlete, behind only Sir Mo Farah.
"It allowed me to really understand a little bit more about myself," Yee reflected on his marathon experience. "To now be able to push on to this year and come back to triathlon and take some of those physiological learnings, psychological learnings into triathlon is quite cool. It has definitely mentally refreshed me."
Racing in London: A Personal and Inspirational Goal
"The opportunity to race in London really excites me," Yee said, recalling his youth. "Back in the day, I would travel on the underground by myself to go and watch a race at Hyde Park or to go and watch a race at the Excel."
He emphasised the importance of accessible sporting role models. "To have that free level of competition really creates that accessibility and that relatability to a sport. Having Alistair and Jonny (Brownlee) as inspiration to go and watch and be like 'there's a Brit at the front' was massive for me."
Yee hopes to be that inspiration for a new generation. "As a population, we really back our own so to have somebody like myself, like Beth (Potter), like Georgia (Taylor-Brown), and so many others to get behind is a great thing for young people."
He concluded by stressing the value of diverse sporting heroes. "We all remember having somebody on our walls when we were growing up. I had (former Crystal Palace striker) Andy Johnson, which is totally different, but we all had those inspirations who we had on our walls who made a difference in our lives in very different ways. If we can have those role models within different sports, not just a mainstream sport like football, that is hugely important."
The London T100 Triathlon weekend, where Yee will compete, is set for 25-26 July.
