Doping campaigner Davies can understand financial frustrations but is still disappointed by Proud's decision to join Enhanced Games

Olympic silver medallist Sharon Davies says she’s ‘disappointed’ Ben Proud has chosen to sign up to the controversial Enhanced Games.

Davies, a fierce campaigner against doping in sport, told Daily Mail Sport that she was concerned about the ‘long-term negative health consequences’ for the British swimmer.

Proud announced his decision on Wednesday, causing shockwaves throughout the world of sport.

The swimmer, who won silver in the 50m Freestyle event at the Paris Olympics, and is a world champion in both the 50m freestyle and butterfly, said he was retiring from traditional swimming to compete in the Enhanced Games.

The announcement was met with a mixture of surprise and horror by many in the sporting community, because of the Games’ intention to allow performance enhancing drugs.

The financial incentive is huge, however. Athletes breaking world records in the 50m freestyle and the 50m Butterfly will receive a $1million and $250,000 bonus respectively, where in conventional competitions, there is nothing. Both are Proud’s chosen events.

Speaking on the BBC Today programme, Proud said ‘There’s a huge financial incentive with this and I would be lying if I said it didn’t matter. If you look at the facts it would take me 13 years of winning world championship titles just to earn what I can win at one competition at the Enhanced Games.

‘It’s just such a different ballpark financially. It gives me the opportunity to earn that sort of money and setting myself up, my family and supporting my mum. These are opportunities as a 30-year-old I just can’t pass by.’

Davies told Daily Mail Sport it was often ‘frustrating and demoralising for athletes to struggle to get exposure and in turn, sponsors and recognition for all their hard work’, but she insisted ‘fighting wrongs from the inside is still always the best way.’

‘I’ve spent my life trying to get illegal performance enhancing drugs out of sport,’ she continued.

‘So I’m not going to change my mind now. Sport should never be about the best chemist. Or who dares to push the drug envelope the furthest. I’m disappointed we won’t see Ben on Team GB again. Sprinters can have a very long successful career well into their 30s.

‘Of late, swimming has really suffered by reduced coverage from the BBC in particular. They didn’t put our recent world championships on TV at all. It’s frustrating and demoralising for athletes to struggle and get exposure, and in turn sponsors and recognition for all their hard work, but for me, fighting wrongs from the inside is still always the best way.

‘Ben has to make decisions for himself and I hope he doesn’t make one that has long-term negative health consequences.’