Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev got a $1 million (€860,000) bonus at the inaugural Enhanced Games in Las Vegas on Sunday for going faster than the official 50 meters freestyle world record with a time of 20.81 seconds.

The 32-year-old, who failed to win a medal in four Olympics, set a faster time than Australian Cameron McEvoy's real world record of 20.88 seconds at the Chinese Swimming Open in March.

The Enhanced Games, as its name suggests, allows athletes to take performance-enhancing substances that are banned in mainstream competitions.

'Circus, built on short-cuts'

World sporting authorities have denounced the event as dangerous and say any new records will not be officially recognized.

Global swimming body World Aquatics has described it as a "circus, built on short-cuts."

"Great race. I had a lot of fun. ​This is amazing," said Gkolomeev, who also wore a synthetic "supersuit" long banned at the Olympics.

"I'm going to say it's not ​bad at all," he added of the prize money. "This is going to change my life to the good, for sure."

Participants at the Enhanced Games get a $1 million bonus for beating world records and $250,000 for winning events.

Only one record 'beaten'

According to organizers, 38 of the 42 participants doped under medical supervision over a period of eight weeks, taking banned substances such as testosterone and other steroids.

Organizers had also predicted that multiple world records would be broken — something that failed to materialize by the end of Sunday night.

British silver Olympic medalist Ben Proud, who took multiple substances, won the men's 50-meter butterfly in 22.32, just 0.05 over the record time.

"We all know what we came for. And that's world records. And so to be that agonizingly close, it's frustrating," he said.

German swimmer wins his event with PB

German swimmer Marius Kusch received €250,000 for winning the 100-meter butterfly and beat his personal best by 0.07 seconds.

Meanwhile, in athletics, American former world champion Fred Kerley won the 100 meters in 9.97 seconds, a time that would have placed him last at the Paris Olympics two years ago and well short of his personal best of 9.76 .

Kerley, who claimed to be drug-free, had predicted ahead of the event that Usain Bolt's 17-year-old world record of 9.58 seconds would get "destroyed."

Organizers dismiss health concerns

Health experts have warned that several of the substances being taken by the athletes could risk "life-shortening and fatal consequences."

Enhanced Games officials, however, said all medications were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Parent company Enhanced sells many of the substances being taken by its athletes to the public and argues banning such drugs stifles athletes' potential.

Billionaire Peter Thiel and Donald Trump Jr were among the investors for the event, which took place at a specially built arena on the Las Vegas Strip. 

Edited by: Richard Connor

Don't let the algorithm hide the news. If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google by clicking here and hitting the "star" or "preferred" button, so you'll always see our verified news first.