Enhanced Games
{{short description|Planned sports event}}
{{Infobox sporting event organization
|name = Enhanced Games
|image = Logo Enhanced.jpg
|image_upright=.7
|caption = Enhanced Games logo as of 2025
|abbreviation =
|motto =
|formation = Las Vegas, United States, in 2026 (planned)
|recurrence =
|last =
|purpose = To be the first event of its kind to support performance-enhancing drugs and not follow the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
|headquarters =71 Fort Street, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands{{cite web |title=Terms of Service |url=https://www.enhanced.com/agreements/terms-of-service |website=Enhanced Games |access-date=25 May 2025 |language=en}}
|leader_title = President
|leader_name = Aron D'Souza
|website = {{URL|enhanced.com}}
|remarks =
}}
The Enhanced Games is a proposed multi-sport event. Founded by Australian businessman Aron D'Souza, it would allow athletes to use performance-enhancing substances without being subject to drug tests. According to D'Souza, he created the Games because athletes are entitled to do what they wish with their own bodies, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is corrupt and not paying them enough.
The first competition of the Enhanced Games is scheduled for May 2026. Reactions have been generally negative from the sporting world, the scientific community, and media outlets, with commentators highlighting the safety risks of encouraging performance-enhancing drug use.
Background
The Enhanced Games is meant to be the first event of its kind to support performance-enhancing drugs and not follow the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).{{cite news |last1=Bailey |first1=Ronald |authorlink=Ronald Bailey |title=The Enhanced Olympics: Drugs welcome! |url=https://reason.com/2023/06/29/the-enhanced-olympics-drugs-welcome/ |access-date=8 July 2023 |work=Reason |date=29 June 2023 |archive-date=8 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708182224/https://reason.com/2023/06/29/the-enhanced-olympics-drugs-welcome/ |url-status=live }} Performance-enhancing drugs will not be mandatory for participants.{{cite news |last1=Wheeler |first1=Daniel |title=Enhanced Games could have negative impact |url=https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20230704/enhanced-games-could-have-negative-impact |access-date=9 July 2023 |work=The Gleaner |date=4 July 2023 |language=en |archive-date=9 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709071333/https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20230704/enhanced-games-could-have-negative-impact |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Witts |first1=James |title=What if doping were completely legal? Welcome to the Enhanced Games |url=https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/enhanced-games-cycling |access-date=31 July 2023 |work=Cyclist |date=28 July 2023 |language=en |archive-date=31 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731124516/https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/enhanced-games-cycling |url-status=live }} Such an event has been discussed hypothetically for many years but never been realised.{{cite news |last1=Tobin |first1=Chris |title=Enhanced Games 'dangerous, unethical, not in best interests of athletes': Drugs Free Sport NZ |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/300920861/enhanced-games-dangerous-unethical-not-in-best-interests-of-athletes-drugs-free-sport-nz |access-date=22 July 2023 |work=Stuff |date=13 July 2023 |language=en |archive-date=22 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722131040/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/300920861/enhanced-games-dangerous-unethical-not-in-best-interests-of-athletes-drugs-free-sport-nz |url-status=live }} Prosthetic limbs and shoe technology will be allowed.{{cite news |last1=Ostlere |first1=Lawrence |title=Welcome to the Enhanced Games, the Olympics with NO drug testing |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/enhanced-games-olympics-doping-aron-dsouza-b2480984.html |access-date=29 January 2024 |work=The Independent |date=22 January 2024 |language=en |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129084211/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/enhanced-games-olympics-doping-aron-dsouza-b2480984.html |url-status=live }} Aron D'Souza, president of the organisation, says that for insurance reasons, only FDA-approved substances will be allowed.{{cite news |last1=Whitehead |first1=Jacob |title=The push for athletes to compete on drugs backed by movement who want to 'cheat death' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5352315/2024/03/22/enhanced-games-doping-steroids-criticism/ |access-date=14 May 2024 |work=The Athletic |date=22 March 2024 |archive-date=14 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514104050/https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5352315/2024/03/22/enhanced-games-doping-steroids-criticism/ |url-status=live }} Cocaine and heroin will not be allowed.{{cite news |last1=Gabert-Doyon |first1=Joshua |title=The Enhanced Games wants to be the Olympics on steroids — literally |url=https://www.ft.com/content/8a14ea98-6c51-42de-8455-3f90d61c9306 |access-date=6 March 2025 |work=Financial Times |date=28 February 2025}} According to D'Souza, athletes should also be categorised based on their chromosomal sex.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-01 |title=Doping für Sportler? Bei den Enhanced Games ausdrücklich erwünscht |url=https://1e9.community/t/doping-fuer-sportler-bei-den-enhanced-games-ausdruecklich-erwuenscht/20562 |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=1E9 |language=de}}
The event, as announced in June 2023, is intended to be annual and to include track and field, swimming, weightlifting, gymnastics, and combat sports. Originally planned for December 2024,{{cite news |last1=Carney |first1=Abby |title=Welcome to the Enhanced Games, Where Doping is A-Okay |url=https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a44361161/what-are-the-enhanced-games/ |access-date=8 July 2023 |work=Runner's World |date=27 June 2023 |archive-date=8 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708100444/https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a44361161/what-are-the-enhanced-games/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Bourke |first1=Latika |title=The man planning an Olympic-style event where doping is allowed |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/the-man-planning-an-olympic-style-event-where-doping-is-allowed-20230808-p5dunk.html |access-date=31 August 2023 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=31 August 2023 |language=en |archive-date=31 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831083635/https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/the-man-planning-an-olympic-style-event-where-doping-is-allowed-20230808-p5dunk.html |url-status=live }} D'Souza estimated the number of athletes to be "maybe a couple of thousand".{{cite news |date=24 June 2023 |title=Enhanced Games: audacious plan for sporting event without drug testing |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jun/24/australian-entrepreneur-plots-enhanced-games-for-drug-taking-athletes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708182223/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jun/24/australian-entrepreneur-plots-enhanced-games-for-drug-taking-athletes |archive-date=8 July 2023 |access-date=8 July 2023 |work=Australian Associated Press |via=The Guardian}} Brett Fraser, chief athletics officer of the organisation, said that the planned included sports are a "core suite of products", and can be improved upon in the future. The scale will depend on funding, and the location was planned to be a university campus or similar facility in the southern United States. D'Souza said in early 2024 that he now had the equity capital to fund the first event.
By August 2023, representatives were saying that what would take place in 2024 would be a smaller "exhibition", with a "full event" taking place in 2025.{{cite news |last1=Huber |first1=Martin Fritz |title=The Dangerous Promise of the Pro-Doping "Enhanced Games" |url=https://www.outsideonline.com/health/running/culture-running/enhanced-games-doping-controversy/ |access-date=11 August 2023 |work=Outside |date=9 August 2023}} CNN said in October 2023 that it was an open question whether the Games would ever take place.
In May 2025, the organization announced plans to hold the games in May 2026 at Resorts World Las Vegas, and that the sports included are to be swimming, track and field, and weightlifting.
People
Aron D'Souza, an Australian businessman based in London, is president of the privately funded organisation.{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Jeremy |title=Drug-taking 'Enhanced Games' aims to rival Olympics with 2024 launch |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2023/06/26/drug-taking-enhanced-games-aims-rival-olympics-2024/ |access-date=8 July 2023 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=26 June 2023 |archive-date=8 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708185006/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2023/06/26/drug-taking-enhanced-games-aims-rival-olympics-2024/ |url-status=live }} He says he had the idea for the Enhanced Games in 2022 when noticing that many people at an American gym were obviously using steroids. He was, together with billionaire Peter Thiel, involved in the 2013 Bollea v. Gawker lawsuit, which led to Gawker filing for bankruptcy. In 2015, he co-founded the company Sargon with Phillip Kingston.{{cite news |last1=Butler |first1=Ben |title=Australian who helped Peter Thiel bankrupt Gawker sues ex-business partner |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/24/australian-who-helped-peter-thiel-bankrupt-gawker-sues-ex-business-partner |access-date=27 July 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=24 January 2020 |archive-date=27 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727193722/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/24/australian-who-helped-peter-thiel-bankrupt-gawker-sues-ex-business-partner |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Mac |first1=Ryan |title=This Man Helped Peter Thiel Demolish Gawker |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanmac/this-is-the-man-who-helped-peter-thiel-demolish-gawker-mr-a |access-date=27 July 2023 |work=BuzzFeed News |date=23 February 2018 |language=en |archive-date=27 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727201819/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanmac/this-is-the-man-who-helped-peter-thiel-demolish-gawker-mr-a |url-status=live }} D'Souza said,
{{Blockquote
|Athletes are adults ... and they have a right to do with their body what they wish - my body, my choice; your body, your choice, ... And no government, no paternalistic sports federation, should be making those decisions for athletes - particularly around products that are FDA regulated and approved.
}}
{{Blockquote
|If we cut out all the waste, the layers of bureaucracy, the needless building of infrastructure, this event can be delivered for virtually nothing, and we can use all the surplus profits to pay the athletes, to invest in R&D, build better and better technology and build a bigger and bigger event.
}}
D'Souza sees the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as corrupt and greedy, and wants to eradicate the WADA, which he calls an "anti-science police force for the IOC." He also argues that the Olympic system doesn't pay athletes enough,{{cite news |last1=Keating |first1=Steve |date=14 February 2024 |title=Athletes risk bans, health and death in Enhanced Games - WADA |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/athletics/athletes-risk-bans-health-death-enhanced-games-wada-2024-02-14/ |access-date=18 February 2024 |work=Reuters}} and that the Olympics include too many sports that don't really matter.{{cite news |title=Enhanced Games out to disrupt 'old, slow' Olympics with doped-up athletes |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/enhanced-games-out-to-disrupt-old-slow-olympics-with-doped-up-athletes |access-date=18 February 2024 |work=The Straits Times |date=14 February 2024 |language=en}} He states that he has never used performance-enhancing drugs himself.
Olympians attached to the organisation as of 2023 include Brett Fraser, Roland Schoeman, and Christina Smith.{{cite news |last1=Bloom |first1=Ben |title=The Enhanced Games – a drugs Olympics where cheaters can prosper |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jun/30/the-enhanced-games-a-drugs-olympics-where-cheaters-can-prosper |access-date=8 July 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=30 June 2023 |archive-date=8 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708182222/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jun/30/the-enhanced-games-a-drugs-olympics-where-cheaters-can-prosper |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Overend |first1=Riley |title=An Olympics Without Drug Testing? Why the Enhanced Games Has Support of (Some) Swimmers |url=https://swimswam.com/an-olympics-without-drug-testing-why-the-enhanced-games-has-support-of-some-swimmers/ |publisher=SwimSwam |access-date=8 July 2023 |date=22 June 2023 |archive-date=8 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708204542/https://swimswam.com/an-olympics-without-drug-testing-why-the-enhanced-games-has-support-of-some-swimmers/ |url-status=live }} Brett Hawke became the head swim coach in 2025.{{cite news |last1=Larkin |first1=Steve |title=Australia's Enhanced Games duo face global swim bans |url=https://au.sports.yahoo.com/australias-enhanced-games-duo-face-032800793.html |access-date=4 June 2025 |work=Australian Associated Press |date=4 June 2025|via=Yahoo Sports}} Other people include geneticist George Church.{{cite news |last1=Kamath |first1=Amit |date=9 July 2023 |title=Games on steroids? Inside an Indian-origin man's plan to organise Enhanced Games |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/games-on-steroids-inside-an-indian-origin-mans-plan-to-organise-enhanced-games-8822235/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230710061735/https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/games-on-steroids-inside-an-indian-origin-mans-plan-to-organise-enhanced-games-8822235/ |archive-date=10 July 2023 |access-date=10 July 2023 |work=The Indian Express |language=en}} German billionaire Christian Angermayer is co-founder of the organisation.{{cite news |last1=Hogg |first1=Ryan |title=German billionaire behind Enhanced Games is dinosaur egg-collecting film producer |url=https://fortune.com/europe/2024/07/13/german-billionaire-enhanced-games-christian-angermayer-olympics-steroids-dinosaur-egg-collecting-film-producer-mushroom-trips/ |access-date=19 May 2025 |work=Fortune |date=13 July 2024 |language=en}}
=Investors=
In January 2024, Enhanced Games announced that it had secured a multi-million-dollar investment round from venture capitalists, including Thiel, Angermayer and Balaji Srinivasan.{{cite web |last1=Ostlere |first1=Lawrence |title=Enhanced Games: Paypal billionaire Peter Thiel invests in controversial doped Olympics |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/enhanced-games-peter-thiel-olympics-b2488157.html |website=The Independent |date=1 February 2024 |access-date=4 February 2024 |archive-date=4 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204114246/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/enhanced-games-peter-thiel-olympics-b2488157.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Venture capitalists Christian Angermayer, Peter Thiel and Balaji Srinivasan join funding for the Enhanced Games, the 21st Century Olympics without drug testing. |url=https://enhanced.org/2024/01/29/seedfundingannouncement/ |website=Enhanced.org |date=30 January 2024 |access-date=4 February 2024 |archive-date=4 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204114246/https://enhanced.org/2024/01/29/seedfundingannouncement/ |url-status=live |last1=Dolan |first1=Thomas }} In February 2025, businessman Donald Trump Jr. said that his venture fund 1789 Capital would be involved in an investment round, saying "The Enhanced Games represent the future – real competition, real freedom, and real records being smashed. This is about excellence, innovation, and American dominance on the world stage – something the MAGA movement is all about."{{Cite news |last=Gabert-Doyon |first=Joshua |date=2025-02-13 |title=Donald Trump Jr invests in 'steroid Olympics' |url=https://www.ft.com/content/8f065bdb-1574-4327-a24e-3cf193232caa |work=Financial Times}}{{cite web |last1=Keith |first1=Braden |title=Donald Trump Jr., Son of U.S. President, Among Lead Investors for Enhanced Games |url=https://swimswam.com/donald-trump-jr-son-of-u-s-president-among-lead-investors-for-enhanced-games-series-b/ |publisher=SwimSwam |date=13 February 2025}} Other investors include Saudi prince Khaled bin Alwaleed Al Saud.{{cite news |last1=Khaled |first1=Ali |title=Is the world of sports ready for the Enhanced Games? |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2601692/amp |access-date=23 May 2025 |work=Arab News |date=22 May 2025 |language=en}}
=Athletes=
Australian swimmer and Olympic medalist James Magnussen said in February 2024 that he intends to come out of retirement to compete in the games in an attempt to break the 50m freestyle world record. D'Souza pledged a US$1 million prize if he did break it, and Magnussen said that he will " ... juice to the gills ... break it in six months".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/swimming/68248821|title=James Magnussen to make swimming 'world record' attempt taking banned drugs|date=9 February 2024|work=BBC News|accessdate=9 February 2024}}{{cite news |title=Australian swimmer James Magnussen says he'll 'juice to the gills' to win $1.5m prize in Enhanced Games |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/09/australian-swimmer-james-magnussen-enhanced-games-drug-taking |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=Australian Associated Press|via=The Guardian |date=8 February 2024}} He also said that the money could set him up for the next decade, that sport is about entertainment and is sometimes taken too seriously,{{cite news |last1=McMurtry |first1=Andrew |title='What would you do for a million bucks?': James Magnussen truth amid Enhanced Games move |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/more-sports/what-would-you-do-for-a-million-bucks-james-magnussen-truth-amid-enhanced-games-move/news-story/d6ec571aa04aeab040d50c8ec406a8e2 |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=News.com.au |date=9 February 2024}} and "This is not for everyone, and it is certainly not something for young athletes."{{cite news |last1=Mark |first1=David |title=The Enhanced Games backers say they're testing the limits of human potential but the truth is far murkier |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-14/enhanced-games-james-magnusson-steroids-science-prizemoney/103462208 |access-date=18 February 2024 |work=ABC News |date=13 February 2024 |language=en-AU}} According to Magnussen, as of May 2025 the performance-enhancing drugs he has taken include testosterone, BPC-157, CJC-1295, ipamorelin and thymosin.{{cite news |last1=Decent |first1=Tom |title=James Magnussen's wild doping experiment and the birth of the Enhanced Games |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/swimming/james-magnussen-s-wild-doping-experiment-and-the-birth-of-the-enhanced-games-20250520-p5m0qn.html |access-date=21 May 2025 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=21 May 2025 |language=en}}
In May 2025, Enhanced Games announced that Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev had unofficially broken the long course 50 metres freestyle world record at an February 2025 private event, beating Magnussen to the record, and winning the $1 million prize. He reportedly swam 20.89 seconds, 0.02 seconds faster than the current record by César Cielo.{{cite news |last1=Henson |first1=Mike |title=Enhanced Games: Doped swimmer claims 50m freestyle 'world record' |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/swimming/articles/c629996lnkro |access-date=23 May 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=21 May 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/45257341/ped-use-allowed-new-enhanced-games-set-2026|title=PED use allowed in new Enhanced Games, set for May 2026|work=ESPN|date=May 21, 2025|first=Dan|last=Murphy}} What performance enhancing drugs he used were not disclosed.{{cite news |last1=Imber |first1=Leon |title=Enhanced Games claims former Olympic swimmer broke two world records ahead of controversial launch |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6374748/2025/05/22/enhanced-games-world-records-kristian-gkolomeev/ |access-date=23 May 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=22 May 2025}}
Olympic swimmers Andriy Govorov, as of 2025 world record holder of the 50m butterfly (long course), and Josif Miladinov, have also joined the Enhanced Games, making a total of four athletes as of May 2025.
Reactions
Fraser stated in July 2023 that over five hundred athletes had contacted him asking for more information. In August, D'Souza said that he had 500 "sleeper athletes" who are "breaking world records in their basement and sending us videos of it" ready for competition. In February 2024, he said that thousands of athletes interested in participating had contacted him. CNN commented in October 2023 that so far none of these athletes appeared willing to speak publicly. Magnussen said that other Australian swimmers had contacted him, expressing interest, and D'Souza says that the first Enhanced Games will include athletes from the 2024 Summer Olympics.{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Rebecca |title=Enhanced Games president says Paris Olympians will be competing at his inaugural event |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/olympics/enhanced-games-president-says-paris-olympians-will-be-competing-at-his-inaugural-event/news-story/23a6c83533818c5f2cac817dea722f82 |access-date=27 May 2024 |work=The Australian |date=5 May 2024}}
The event has been dubbed the "steroid Olympics" by multiple media outlets.{{Cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Aaron CT |last2=Ordway |first2=Catherine |date=2024-02-06 |title=Venture capitalists are backing a 'steroid Olympics' to find out what happens when athletes are doped to the gills |url=https://theconversation.com/venture-capitalists-are-backing-a-steroid-olympics-to-find-out-what-happens-when-athletes-are-doped-to-the-gills-222869 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-10 |title=The 'Steroid Olympics': Inside the PED-Friendly Enhanced Games |url=https://www.menshealth.com/uk/fitness/a61556242/the-enhanced-games-steroid-olympics/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Men's Health |language=en-GB}}
File:Lord Coe - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2012 cropped.jpg, president of World Athletics, said: "No one within athletics takes the Enhanced Games seriously."]]
=Organizations=
The IOC stated, "If you want to destroy any concept of fair play and fair competition in sport, this would be a good way to do it. ... This is completely at odds with the idea and values of the Olympic Games." The Australian Olympic Committee called the idea "dangerous and irresponsible."{{cite news |title=Australian man plans Enhanced Games for doping athletes |url=https://apnews.com/article/australia-olympics-enhanced-games-doping-24462bcf8f1f97125a8234bea5723ff3 |access-date=8 July 2023 |work=Associated Press |date=26 June 2023 |language=en |archive-date=8 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708182223/https://apnews.com/article/australia-olympics-enhanced-games-doping-24462bcf8f1f97125a8234bea5723ff3 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Mendoza |first1=Jordan |title=Olympics with no drug testing? Australian man plans Enhanced Games with doping allowed |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2023/06/26/enhanced-games-olympic-doping-allowed/70357545007/ |access-date=8 July 2023 |work=USA Today |date=26 June 2023 |archive-date=27 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627033148/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2023/06/26/enhanced-games-olympic-doping-allowed/70357545007/ |url-status=live }} A representative of the Swedish Olympic Committee said, "I see it as ill-conceived, short-sighted and foolhardy and something other than sport."{{cite news |title=Idrott: "The Enhanced Games" – mästerskapet där alla får dopa sig |url=https://www.svt.se/sport/idrott/the-enhanced-games-masterskapet-dar-alla-far-dopa-sig |access-date=8 July 2023 |work=Sveriges Television |date=26 June 2023 |language=sv |archive-date=6 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206081055/https://www.svt.se/sport/artikel/the-enhanced-games-masterskapet-dar-alla-far-dopa-sig |url-status=live }} The UK Anti-Doping said in a statement that "UKAD's mission is to protect sport from doping cheats. There is no place in sport for performance enhancing drugs, nor the Enhanced Games."{{cite web |title=UKAD statement on The Enhanced Games |url=https://www.ukad.org.uk/news/ukad-statement-enhanced-games |publisher=UK Anti-Doping |access-date=9 July 2023 |language=en |date=5 July 2023 |archive-date=9 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709070400/https://www.ukad.org.uk/news/ukad-statement-enhanced-games |url-status=live }}
Travis Tygart, CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), said: "farcical … likely illegal in many [US] states" and "a dangerous clown show, not real sport." Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, said, "No one within athletics takes the Enhanced Games seriously."{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Daniel |title=A Drug-Friendly Olympics Just Took a Step Closer to Becoming a Reality |url=https://www.menshealth.com/uk/fitness/a46623270/enhanced-games-drug-friendly-olympics/ |access-date=5 February 2024 |work=Men's Health |date=2 February 2024 |archive-date=5 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240205174954/https://www.menshealth.com/uk/fitness/a46623270/enhanced-games-drug-friendly-olympics/ |url-status=live }} WADA stated that it "warns athletes and support personnel, who wish to participate in clean sport, that if they were to take part in the Enhanced Games, they would risk committing anti-doping rule violations under the World Anti-Doping Code." The CEO of Sports Medicine Australia said that no member of the organization had expressed support for the Enhanced Games in their capacity as healthcare professionals.
The CEO of the Australian Sports Commission said, "I cannot see any responsible and ethical person thinking the Enhanced Games is even remotely sensible". Rahul Gupta, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, stated that the Biden administration had deep concerns regarding the Enhanced Games.{{cite web |title=In a Pre-Olympics Effort to Combat Doping in Sports, White House Drug Policy Director Travels to Switzerland for WADA Executive Committee Meeting and Annual Symposium {{!}} ONDCP |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/ondcp/briefing-room/2024/03/15/in-a-pre-olympics-effort-to-combat-doping-in-sports-white-house-drug-policy-director-travels-to-switzerland-for-wada-executive-committee-meeting-and-annual-symposium/ |website=whitehouse.gov |access-date=28 March 2024 |date=15 March 2024}} The International Federation of Sports Medicine expressed worry that the Enhanced Games would exploit young people.{{cite news |title='Enhanced Games' plan condemned |work=Bangkok Post |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/sports/2803486/enhanced-games-plan-condemned |access-date=12 June 2024 |agency=Reuters |date=1 June 2024 |language=en}} World Aquatics stated "The Enhanced Games are not a sporting competition built on universal values like honesty, fairness and equity: they are a circus, built on shortcuts".{{cite news |last1=Pearson |first1=Matt |title=Enhanced Games world record claim: What does it mean? – DW – 05/22/2025 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/enhanced-games-world-record-claim-what-does-it-mean/a-72628920 |access-date=23 May 2025 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=22 May 2025 |language=en}} In June 2025, it announced that people involved in events like the Enhanced Games would be banned from World Aquatics events.{{cite news |title=Swimming world body will banish participants in pro-doping Enhanced Games |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jun/03/world-swimming-enhanced-games-ban |access-date=4 June 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=3 June 2025}} The China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) stated its "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."{{cite news |last1=Jahan |first1=Shifa |title=China urges sports bodies to reject 'gladiator show' Enhanced Games |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/china-urges-sports-bodies-reject-gladiator-show-enhanced-games-2025-05-24/ |access-date=31 May 2025 |work=Reuters |date=24 May 2025}}
=Sports people=
Cyclist and Olympic gold medalist Anna Meares said "Unfair, unsafe — I just don't think this is the right way to go about sport." Cyclist Joseph M. Papp, suspended for doping in 2006, referred to a 1988 Weekend Update skit, saying: "I don't think you'd actually see guys tearing their arms off ... A doping free-for-all just invites the most ambitious person to be the most reckless person, and to take the most drugs possible without literally killing themselves."{{cite web |title=Weekend Update: Kevin Nealon on the All-Drug Olympics - SNL |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAdG-iTilWU |publisher=Saturday Night Live |access-date=31 July 2023 |language=en |date=1988 |archive-date=9 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709080201/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAdG-iTilWU |url-status=live }} Badminton player Susan Egelstaff stated, "It cannot, and will not work. The danger is massive."{{cite news |last1=Egelstaff |first1=Susan |authorlink=Susan Egelstaff |title=No place in sport for an Olympic-style Games for drug-takers |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/23642986.no-place-sport-olympic-style-games-drug-takers/ |access-date=8 August 2023 |work=The Herald |date=9 July 2023 |language=en |archive-date=10 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810160928/https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/23642986.no-place-sport-olympic-style-games-drug-takers/ |url-status=live }} Swimmer and Olympic gold medalist Leisel Jones stated that while she would not participate herself due to the risks, she'd be interested in how fast people could get with doping, saying: "If this clears out people who ... are doing illegal things in sport, if that clears them out our clean sport, that would be wonderful."{{cite news |title=Liesel Jones not against idea of Enhanced Games |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8516680/liesel-jones-not-against-idea-of-enhanced-games/ |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=The Canberra Times |date=10 February 2024 |language=en-AU}}{{cite news |last1=Dampney |first1=James |title=Swimming legend Leisel Jones has given her take on the Enhanced Games |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/olympics/swimming/swimming-legend-leisel-jones-has-given-her-take-on-the-enhanced-games/news-story/d55767e00db7ce06c7f7c3618c440250 |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=News.com.au |date=10 February 2024}}
Swimmer and Olympic gold medalist Libby Trickett said it was understandable the Enhanced Games would attract fascination and interest, and that "I really, really, really hope that it's done under medical supervision because that's the only way I can kind of justify in my head something like this to go ahead."{{cite news |last1=Ross |first1=Isabella |title=There's an alternative Olympics where everyone is 'on drugs'. |url=https://www.mamamia.com.au/what-are-the-enhanced-games/ |access-date=18 February 2024 |work=Mamamia |date=13 February 2024 |language=en-AU}}
Olympic swimmer Mark Foster expressed similar views, noting also that money has attraction.{{cite news |title=Enhanced Games: Mark Foster worried by 'dangerous' risks facing competitors |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/swimming/68260961 |access-date=18 February 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=10 February 2024}} Former Australian Football player Adam Cooney stated, "I would say that 90–95 per cent of the population would put their hand up and do [what James Magnussen did], they're not going to get anywhere near a world record obviously, but it is pretty enticing."{{cite news |title='Condom full of walnuts': Aussie Olympian's 'irresponsible' world record doping pledge slammed |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/olympics/condom-full-of-walnuts-aussie-olympians-irresponsible-world-record-doping-pledge-slammed/news-story/b87a13366074c31c9bb69d368adb919a |access-date=18 February 2024 |work=News.com.au |date=11 February 2024 |language=en|via=Fox Sports}}
=Science and academia=
Andy Miah, professor of science communication and future media at the University of Salford, called the Enhanced Games a "provocation", saying that "... the significant risk of athletes excessively enhancing and risking significant health complications is unaddressed by their materials. There is no mention of medical oversight in the competition on the website, from what I can see." Fraser said that "Each athlete must be under clinical supervision."{{cite news |last1=Cumming |first1=Ed |title=A dope-friendly Olympics could be the future – but it ignores one awkward truth |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2023/07/03/drug-enhanced-olympic-games/ |access-date=22 July 2023 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=3 July 2023 |archive-date=22 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722121740/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2023/07/03/drug-enhanced-olympic-games/ |url-status=live }} and according to D’Souza, "We will focus on athlete safety by mandating athletes have pre-competition full-system clinical screenings including blood tests and EKGs." Science writer Ronald Bailey said, "Let fans decide which play they prefer." Grigory Rodchenkov, former head of the Moscow Anti-Doping Laboratory, said it was a "danger to health, to sport."{{cite news |last1=Stazicker |first1=Molly |title=A doping free-for-all Enhanced Games calls itself the answer to doping in sports. Opponents say it poses a danger to health |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/30/sport/enhanced-games-olympics-doping-spt-intl/index.html |access-date=1 November 2023 |work=CNN |date=30 October 2023 |language=en |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031190445/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/30/sport/enhanced-games-olympics-doping-spt-intl/index.html |url-status=live }} Academic John William Devine said that "In a sporting world in which inequality of opportunity is already rampant, the removal of the doping ban would only deepen an existing moral failing."{{cite news |last1=Devine |first1=John William |title=The Enhanced Games: letting athletes use drugs could lead to worse problems than cheating |url=https://theconversation.com/the-enhanced-games-letting-athletes-use-drugs-could-lead-to-worse-problems-than-cheating-209349 |access-date=22 July 2023 |work=The Conversation |date=11 July 2023 |language=en |archive-date=22 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722132602/https://theconversation.com/the-enhanced-games-letting-athletes-use-drugs-could-lead-to-worse-problems-than-cheating-209349 |url-status=live }} According to John Hoberman, author of several books on sports and doping, D'Souza's idea that drugs would lead to better performance is "very simplistic", and D'Souza is "very shallow on the scientific end".
=Media=
The Spectator opined that "In any discipline, we seek only to discover who is the fastest, or the strongest, the most accurate or the most coordinated. What's absolutely crucial, at least as far as retaining spectator interest goes, is that the advantage is natural."{{cite news |last1=Reilly |first1=Damian |title=Why the Enhanced Games won't work |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-the-enhanced-games-wont-work/ |access-date=8 July 2023 |work=The Spectator |date=26 June 2023 |archive-date=8 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708184008/https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-the-enhanced-games-wont-work/ |url-status=live }} The Daily Telegraph{{'}}s sports writer commented that "Remarkably it seems a more fleshed-out idea than the European Super League".{{cite news |last1=Gibbs |first1=Thom |title=In crazy world of the Enhanced Games you cannot call doping cheating any more |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2023/06/30/enhanced-games-olympics-drugs-doping-aron-dsouza/ |access-date=8 July 2023 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=30 June 2023 |archive-date=8 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708185005/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2023/06/30/enhanced-games-olympics-drugs-doping-aron-dsouza/ |url-status=live }} Cyclist wondered who would be willing to sponsor the event, noting that as of late July 2023, no sponsors were mentioned on the Enhanced Game's website.
The Globe and Mail{{'}}s journalist said, "I will admit, I am incredibly curious to see an "enhanced" person running faster than Usain Bolt, or swimming better than Michael Phelps. But I would not want to be that person, and I bet that neither will the serious athletes who have so far managed to avoid doping infractions."{{cite news |last1=Cyr |first1=Alex |title=Opinion: Will the Enhanced Games survive the stigma around doping in sports? |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-will-the-enhanced-games-survive-the-stigma-around-doping-in-sports/ |access-date=13 January 2024 |work=The Globe and Mail |date=13 January 2024 |language=en-CA |archive-date=13 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113121329/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-will-the-enhanced-games-survive-the-stigma-around-doping-in-sports/ |url-status=live }} The Independent said that while the sporting world has been mostly dismissive, "D’Souza is intelligent and well-connected, and he has brought down big targets before. So when he says it’s going to happen, he is deadly serious." The Sydney Morning Herald{{'}}s sport columnist said that "the Enhanced Games are a dangerous, iniquitous concept."{{cite news |last1=Kane |first1=Darren |title=The Enhanced Games will be many things, but they won't be sport |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/the-enhanced-games-will-be-many-things-but-they-won-t-be-sport-20240215-p5f55x.html |access-date=18 February 2024 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=16 February 2024 |language=en}} Outsports criticized D’Souza's use of LGBTQ language like "coming out" to describe athletes openly using performance-enhancing drugs.{{cite news |last1=Holmes |first1=Jon |title=Co-opting 'coming out' for 'steroid Olympics' is crude and insulting |url=https://www.outsports.com/2024/2/15/24067642/enhanced-games-lgbtq-gay-language-coming-out-aron-dsouza |access-date=18 February 2024 |work=Outsports |date=15 February 2024 |language=en}} D’Souza is an out gay man.
OutKick's writer said in February 2025 "Humans LOVE modern gladiators accomplishing feats that none of us ever could. The Olympics can still have non-tainted records ... but that still shouldn't hurt someone taking legalized performance enhancing substances to try and absolutely RIP it out there in competition."{{cite web |last1=Gunzelman |first1=Mike |title=Donald Trump Jr. Is Bringing 'Steroid Olympics' To United States |url=https://www.outkick.com/sports/donald-trump-jr-bringing-steroid-olympics-united-states |publisher=OutKick |access-date=20 February 2025 |date=18 February 2025}} Financial Times said the same month "A year on, with just one athlete publicly signed on to the project and no concrete plans for either a venue or a date, the project looks increasingly like a weird thought experiment, despite its high-profile backers. For D'Souza, the second Trump regime could be what the Enhanced Games needs to get off the ground." The Times said in May 2025 "The Enhanced Games may be divisive, even dystopian to some. As far as D’Souza is concerned, they are the future — and the starting pistol is about to fire."{{cite news |last1=Blakely |first1=Rhys |title=Billions will watch drug-fuelled Olympics, says Enhanced Games founder |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/science/article/billions-will-watch-drug-fuelled-olympics-says-enhanced-games-founder-mscc978s2 |access-date=13 May 2025 |work=The Times |date=9 May 2025 |language=en}} Time listed D'Souza and Angermayer among the "Most Influential People in Health of 2025".{{Cite magazine |title=Christian Angermayer and Aron D'Souza: The 2025 TIME100 Health List |url=https://time.com/collections/time100-health-2025/7279604/christian-angermayer-aron-dsouza/ |magazine=Time |date=8 May 2025 |access-date=2025-05-19 |archive-date=2025-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250519120000/https://time.com/collections/time100-health-2025/7279604/christian-angermayer-aron-dsouza/ |url-status=live }} The Economist said that the Games align with a growing human enhancement industry, aiming to improve strength, intelligence, and longevity.{{Cite news |title=Dreams of improving the human race are no longer science fiction |url=https://www.economist.com/briefing/2025/03/20/dreams-of-improving-the-human-race-are-no-longer-science-fiction |access-date=2025-05-19 |newspaper=The Economist |date=2025-03-20 |archive-date=2025-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250519120000/https://www.economist.com/briefing/2025/03/20/dreams-of-improving-the-human-race-are-no-longer-science-fiction |url-status=live }}
See also
- Goodwill Games - a defunct multisport event created in response to the controversies surrounding the political issues related to the Olympic Games, a similar premise concerning issues in sports history
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://enhanced.org/}}
- [https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/athletes-unite-to-create-the-enhanced-games-a-competitor-to-the-olympic-games-the-first-global-sports-event-without-drug-testing-301854542.html Athletes unite to create the Enhanced Games, a competitor to the Olympic Games: The first global sports event without drug testing], 2023 press release
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVwivdU-9VI The Enhanced Games: An Olympics-style event WITHOUT drug-testing 😳], 2023 video at Talksport
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGA7EwgIAfY Swimmer James Magnussen Signs Up For Drug-Enhanced Games], 2024 The Project video