The first-ever edition of the highly controversial Enhanced Games are set to take place in May next year in Las Vegas. Enhanced Games will be a multi-disciplinary sports events where the competitors will be free to use performance-enhancing drugs. The Enhanced Games is the brainchild of London-based Australian entrepreneur Aron D’Souza.
The inaugural edition of the Enhanced Games will see athletes compete in swimming, athletics and weightlifting events. Because the athletes will be allowed to use performance-enhancing drugs and other form substances which are prohibited or banned in mainstream sports, the Enhanced Games have drawn sharp criticism from anti-doping bodies and medical experts.
Commenting on the Enhanced Games, Travis Tygart, the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, has said: “While those behind the Enhanced Games might be looking to make a quick buck, that profit would come at the expense of kids across the world thinking they need to dope to chase their dreams. We desperately wish this investment was being made in the athletes who are currently training and competing the real and safe way. They are the role models this world so desperately needs and they are the ones who deserve our support – not some dangerous clown show that puts profit over principle.”
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The World Athletics president, Sebastian Coe has warned that athletes competing at the Enhanced Games will be banned for a long time. Coe’s concerns have been backed by the International Federation of Sports Medicine which has said that the project might result in the exploitation of young athletes.
But the organisers of these Games portray a different picture.
According to the official website of the Enhanced Games the Games will usher in a new era of athletic competition —one that embraces science and technology to elevate human performance. The organizers believe these advancements can be applied “responsibly” and should be recognized as a “positive force” in the evolution of sport. D’Souza has termed the Enhanced Games as “the Olympics of the future”.
A February 2024 report by Reuters stated these Games attracted big-name investors, including Paypal co-founder Peter Thiel. To further boast the Games’ credibility D’Souza managed to convince retired Australian world champion swimmer James Magnussen to take banned performance-enhancing drugs in order to beat Cesar Cielo’s 15-year-old 50 metres sprint world record. To do so Magnussen has been offered $1 million. To lure athletes into participating in these Games the organisers are offering prize money totalling up to $500,000 per event plus bonuses for breaking a world record mark.
Disclaimer:
The information presented in this article is for informational purposes only. It reflects publicly available sources and opinions regarding the Enhanced Games and related developments. This article does not endorse or promote the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports. The views and quotes attributed to individuals or organizations are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author or publisher. Readers are advised to consult official sources and expert guidance when forming opinions on health, ethics, and sports-related issues.
Prakhar Sachdeo
The Sportz Planet Desk
