On May 24, Las Vegas will host the first Enhanced Games, a sporting event where athletes are permitted to use substances ordinarily banned in sports. Organizers claim it pushes human limits, but doping experts warn of grave dangers.

Announced in 2023 with promises of thousands of athletes in five sports, the event has been scaled down to 50 competitors in three disciplines: swimming, sprinting, and weightlifting. Each event offers a $500,000 purse, with $250,000 for first place and $1 million bonuses for world records in the 100m sprint and 50m freestyle.

The Games' spokesman stated the aim is to unlock athletes' best performances under medical supervision using FDA-approved substances. Critics argue that drug-enhanced records are meaningless and the pursuit lethally dangerous.

Michael Cepic, Chairman of the Central European Anti-Doping Agency, called the event a circus, not sport. He noted that pharmaceuticals are developed for the sick, and using them without medical need harms the body. He compared it to Roman gladiator fights, where participants risked death for entertainment.

Cepic also warned of escalating drug use: athletes may start with one pill, but to beat records, others will take two, then more, until bodies can no longer cope. He predicts athletes may die in their 40s or 50s.

Some athletes, like German swimmer Marius Kusch, justify participation by financial need. Kusch said swimming never provided financial stability, so he chose to compete. The Games also offer appearance fees and record bonuses.

Investors include Peter Thiel and Donald Trump Jr., who see the Enhanced Games as proof of human potential. However, the broader business model is selling pharmaceuticals on the event's website, targeting anti-aging and performance-enhancing trends.

The Games claim results will be published on a US government site, but individual athlete intake will not be disclosed due to privacy. Aggregate substance use data will be released later this week.

Source: www.dw.com