Reece Prescod and British Athletics ought to be ashamed of Enhanced Games choice
JEREMY CROSS COLUMN: British athlete Reece Prescod has agreed to take part in the Enhanced Games, where athletes are allowed to take substances banned from mainstream sport
The wide held belief is that money is the root of all evil, which is quite something, when you take religion into account.
But the chance to ruin your reputation, legacy and the respect others have for you, in return for some hard cash, is damning proof of the above claim. Because that is what British athlete Reece Prescod is willing to do, after the retired sprinter agreed to take part in the Enhanced Games.
He won the silver medal in the 100 metres at the 2018 European Championships, represented his country at the 2020 Summer Olympics, and clinched bronze for the four x 100m relay at the 2022 World Championships.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
Yet he will now join a competition, taking place in Las Vegas of all cities, where athletes will be allowed to take substances currently banned from mainstream sport.
It feels fitting this abhorrent event is happening in the United States, which now feels like one of the most dysfunctional and shameless countries on the planet.
Prescod should feel ashamed of himself for signing up. But British Athletics should also feel ashamed that one of the fastest sprinters they’ve ever had feels the need to do so to pay his bills.
Because Prescod has made it to the age of 29 – and has not been financially rewarded in line with what his talents deserve.
Good week
Anthony Joshua – The former world heavyweight champion has released footage showing him back in the ring and doing some light training and sparring. Which has to be a good sign that Joshua is finding some way to move on from the horrific car crash in Nigeria he was involved in, which claimed the lives of two of his pals.
Steve Smith – Fresh from inspiring Australia’s demolition of England in the recent Ashes series Down Under, Smith has been displaying his batting brilliance again. The Aussie run machine plundered a stunning 100 from just 42 balls to help his Sydney Sixers defeat derby rivals Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash.
Bad week
LIV Golf – The controversial Saudi-backed Tour pumped eyewatering amounts into luring Brooks Koepka to play for them. But now the American has turned his back on LIV in a bid to win back his place on the PGA Tour. Karma is alive and well, it seems.
Shaun Wane – Just weeks after insisting he was the right man to lead England into the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, Wane has stood down as head coach.
Considering the tournament is just nine months from kicking off, this is more damning proof of just how woeful the administration of the sport is in this country.
