Olympic gold medalist says why he would 'absolutely' not participate in PED-filled Enhanced Games
Richard Thompson also won two silver medals
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Enhanced Games have drawn lots of criticism, as it will be an Olympic-styled event that openly allows performance-enhancing drugs.
The event's founder, Dr. Aron D'Souza, has maintained that the competition will be fair and balanced, as no one will have anything to hide, but more importantly, his main goal is to prove that steroids and other PEDs can be taken safely.
The games, unlike the Olympics, will be giving out cash prizes, most notably offering a $1 million prize to Australian swimmer James Magnussen if he can beat the world record in the 50-meter freestyle. (It would not be officially recognized.)
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Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago celebrates his second-place finish in the Men's 100m Final at the National Stadium on Day 8 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 16, 2008, in Beijing, China. Thompson finished in 9.89 seconds. (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
But one Olympic gold medalist says his response would be "Absolutely no" if he were given the cash prize offer.
Richard Thompson, of Trinidad and Tobago, finished second in the 100 meters in the 2008 Olympics to Usain Bolt. He was later awarded a gold medal in the 4x100-meter relay due to a member of the Jamaican team, originally the winners, testing positive for PEDs. (Jamaica reclaimed gold in 2012, with Thompson's squad finishing in second.)
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Thompson admits that he understands the argument that the event is fair. Considering his ordeal, who could blame him for that opinion, as he says he was robbed of a true euphoric feeling. But there's more to life than money and, in his mind, not competing the right way.
Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago celebrates his second-place finish in the Men's 100m Final at the National Stadium on Day 8 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 16, 2008, in Beijing, China. (Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)
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Now a coach and instructor at the IMG Academy, he says he wants to teach his athletes how to operate with "integrity."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I think it’s extremely important to understand that there is so much more to life than money and fame and attention. Who do we want to be seen as, who do we want people to remember us as, what do we want our legacy to be? One of the reasons why I was hired here at IMG is because they saw that I was a high-character individual . . . " Thompson said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.
"I retired as the 10th-fastest runner at the time, and that list of No. 1 to 10, there were two people to have never tested positive for any performance-enhancing drug or be implicated in any drug scandal . . . the two people on that list were Usain Bolt and myself. They’ll never have to doubt the person that represents their brand and their values and principles that they want to be operating by.
Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago and Usain Bolt of Jamaica cross the line in the Men's 100m Final at the National Stadium on Day 8 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 16, 2008, in Beijing, China. Usain Bolt of Jamaica finished the event in first place with a time of 9.69, a new World Record. Thompson claimed silver. (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I think the way that we see life sometimes is we look through this lens of ‘I want money, fame, followers.’ Things that make us feel important. But as you mature in life, yes, we need money to do things, no question about that. But the things that are really important is your life, your health, and your family, and to me, that’s worth more than $1 million."
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