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Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Olympic athletes warn pro-doping Enhanced Games could lead to deaths
Former swimming world champion James Magnussen attends a Las Vegas press conference in May to announce he will be joining the new Enhanced Games. Former swimming world champion James Magnussen attends a Las Vegas press conference in May to announce he will be joining the new Enhanced Games. Photograph: Arafat Barbakh/Reuters Olympic athletes have condemned the Enhanced Games – a controversial new sporting event where competitors are encouraged to use performance-enhancing drugs – warning it could result in long-term health consequences or even deaths. In a joint statement issued Tuesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) athletes' commissions called the Enhanced Games 'a betrayal of everything that we stand for'. Advertisement Related: Pro-doping Enhanced Games to debut in Las Vegas with Trump Jr backing 'Promoting performance-enhancing substances and methods sends a dangerous message – especially to current and future generations of athletes,' the statement read. 'Such substances can lead to serious long-term health consequences – even death – and encouraging athletes to use them is utterly irresponsible and immoral. No level of sporting success is worth such a cost.' The rebuke is the most forceful yet against the Enhanced Games, an Olympics-style event set to debut next May in Las Vegas where athletes will be allowed, and in some cases incentivized, to use banned substances under medical supervision. Organizers of the Enhanced Games have positioned the competition as a radical alternative to traditional sport, promising to embrace what they call 'superhumanity' by normalizing pharmaceutical and technological enhancement. The event will run 21–24 May 2026 at Resorts World on the Las Vegas Strip and feature sprinting, swimming and weightlifting. Advertisement While promoters frame the Games as a scientific revolution and a break from what they call the 'hypocrisy' of anti-doping regimes, the backlash has been swift and severe. 'This is a dangerous clown show, not real sport,' said Travis Tygart, CEO of the US Anti-Doping Agency, in an earlier statement. 'As we have seen through history, performance-enhancing drugs have taken a terrible physical and mental toll on many athletes. Some have died.' The Enhanced Games' founder, the Australian entrepreneur Aron D'Souza, insists the event is both ethical and medically sound. Athletes will undergo individualized health profiling, disclose all substances used while competing under the supervision of independent scientific and ethics boards. Traditional anti-doping tests will not be conducted. 'The Enhanced Games is renovating the Olympic model for the 21st century,' D'Souza said. 'In the era of accelerating technological and scientific change, the world needs a sporting event that embraces the future – particularly advances in medical science.' Advertisement Critics say the model amounts to 'don't ask, don't tell' for doping. Others see a deeper agenda: a challenge not only to sport's institutions but to its foundational values. Many have also raised concerns about the political and financial backers of the event. Related: 'Imagine if a 60-year-old broke Usain Bolt's record': the story behind the Enhanced Games, the Olympics where everyone dopes The latest round of funding includes investment from 1789 Capital – a firm co-founded by Donald Trump Jr and Omeed Malik – while tech billionaire Peter Thiel has been listed as a major investor and 'close advisor', according to D'Souza. A video announcing the backing appeared to suggest the US president's personal endorsement. D'Souza has openly welcomed their involvement, describing Trump-aligned figures as 'some of the most significant' cultural supporters of the project. The event's tagline, Live Enhanced, has become both a rallying cry and a provocation. Organizers say they are recruiting athletes who feel alienated by conventional doping restrictions, including former swimming world champion James Magnussen. In February, Greek-Bulgarian swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev recorded a time 0.02sec faster than the longstanding 50m freestyle world record, reportedly while following an enhancement protocol. But the swim was not officially recognized – in part because he wore a polyurethane suit not approved by Fina, swimming's global governing body. Advertisement Prize money for the 2026 Games is substantial: up to $500,000 per event, with a $1m bonus for record-breaking performances. Despite mounting criticism, the Enhanced Games show no signs of slowing down. Organizers say discussions are ongoing with sponsors and streaming platforms, though no broadcast partner or marquee athlete has been publicly confirmed. If regulatory pressure builds, the Games' future could hinge on whether the public sees the venture as scientific progress or a dangerous line crossed. For now, Olympic athletes say the stakes couldn't be higher. 'We stand firmly together for the values of fair play, ethical behaviour and respect,' the IOC and WADA athletes said in Tuesday's statement. 'We will do everything we can to protect the integrity of sport for generations to come.'
Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Doping-China urges sports bodies to reject 'gladiator show' Enhanced Games
Athlete and swimmer Andriy Govorov speaks to members of the press about joining the \"Enhanced Games\" roster during a press conference, in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., May 21, 2025. REUTERS/Arafat Barbakh Athlete and swimmer James Magnussen attends a press conference to announce he will be joining the new \"Enhanced Games\" team, in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., May 21, 2025. REUTERS/Arafat Barbakh The \"Enhanced Games\" team attends a press conference to announce new games scheduled for 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., May 21, 2025. REUTERS/Arafat Barbakh The Chinese Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) has denounced the Enhanced Games on Friday and called on the global sports community to collectively oppose the competition that endorses the use of banned substances. The Enhanced Games will debut in May 2026 in Las Vegas with swimming, athletics and weightlifting on the agenda for athletes using substances banned in official competition, to the dismay of anti-doping bodies like the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Participants could earn prize money totalling up to $500,000 per event plus bonuses for surpassing a world record mark. CHINADA denounced the event in a statement to state news agency Xinhua on Friday, calling it "a distorted competition that turns pure sports competition into a drug contest, which serious(ly) contradicts the purpose of the World Anti-Doping Code." "It severely threatens the physical and mental health of athletes as well as the spirit of sport. In addition, its publicity tactics reveal its nature as a capital-driven initiative. "CHINADA hereby expresses our firm opposition to any attempt to portray doping as so-called scientific advancements, and calls on the global sports community to stand united in rejecting the Enhanced Games." The Enhanced Games operate under the principle that banning performance-enhancing drugs in major competitions does not protect athletes but rather stifles their performance. Organisers have called on athletes to join the competition. However, CHINADA said the Enhanced Games organisers lure athletes with high prizes into risking their health and feeding public appetite for a "gladiator show". REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Doping-WADA condemns 'dangerous and irresponsible' Enhanced Games
FILE PHOTO: The \"Enhanced Games\" team attends a press conference to announce new games scheduled for 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., May 21, 2025. REUTERS/Arafat Barbakh/File Photo NEW YORK - The World Anti-Doping Agency condemned the Enhanced Games as "dangerous and irresponsible" on Thursday, a day after the competition that endorses the use of banned substances announced its inaugural 2026 event. The Enhanced Games operate under the principle that banning performance-enhancing drugs in major competitions does not protect athletes but rather stifles their performance, and called on athletes to join the competition. "The health and well-being of athletes is WADA's number-one priority. Clearly this event would jeopardize that as it seeks to promote the use of powerful substances and methods by athletes for the purposes of entertainment and marketing," WADA said in a statement. "Over the years, there have been many examples of athletes suffering serious long-term side-effects from their use of prohibited substances and methods. Some have died." The 2026 Enhanced Games, which will take place in Las Vegas from May 21-24, will include swimming, athletics and weightlifting events. Organisers say that they will protect athletes while using technology and science to enhance their strength and speed, unlocking a new level of "superhuman" performances. WADA called on anti-doping organisations to test athletes before, during and after the event, "to protect the integrity of legitimate sport." "WADA warns athletes and support personnel who wish to participate in sport regulated by the World Anti-Doping Code, that if they were to take part in the Enhanced Games, they would risk committing anti-doping rule violations," said WADA. "They would also put their reputations on the line, as they would risk forever being associated with doping." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Doping-WADA condemns 'dangerous and irresponsible' Enhanced Games
FILE PHOTO: The "Enhanced Games" team attends a press conference to announce new games scheduled for 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., May 21, 2025. REUTERS/Arafat Barbakh/File Photo NEW YORK (Reuters) -The World Anti-Doping Agency condemned the Enhanced Games as "dangerous and irresponsible" on Thursday, a day after the competition that endorses the use of banned substances announced its inaugural 2026 event. The Enhanced Games operate under the principle that banning performance-enhancing drugs in major competitions does not protect athletes but rather stifles their performance, and called on athletes to join the competition. "The health and well-being of athletes is WADA's number-one priority. Clearly this event would jeopardize that as it seeks to promote the use of powerful substances and methods by athletes for the purposes of entertainment and marketing," WADA said in a statement. "Over the years, there have been many examples of athletes suffering serious long-term side-effects from their use of prohibited substances and methods. Some have died." The 2026 Enhanced Games, which will take place in Las Vegas from May 21-24, will include swimming, athletics and weightlifting events. Organisers say that they will protect athletes while using technology and science to enhance their strength and speed, unlocking a new level of "superhuman" performances. WADA called on anti-doping organisations to test athletes before, during and after the event, "to protect the integrity of legitimate sport." "WADA warns athletes and support personnel who wish to participate in sport regulated by the World Anti-Doping Code, that if they were to take part in the Enhanced Games, they would risk committing anti-doping rule violations," said WADA. "They would also put their reputations on the line, as they would risk forever being associated with doping." (Reporting by Amy Tennery in New YorkEditing by Toby Davis)
