Boosted event
Las Vegas is to host one of the most controversial major sporting events of all time in 2026, the doping-encouraged Enhanced Games. Resorts World Las Vegas will host the polarizing Olympics-style sporting event next May 21–24.
race, lift and swim with full access to drugs”
According to The Guardian, competitors will “race, lift and swim with full access to drugs and therapies banned in virtually every other elite athletic setting.”
Enhanced Games took to X Wednesday to announce the Vegas event:
Australian entrepreneur Aron D’Souza founded Enhanced Games in 2023.
Bankrolled by the likes of Donald Trump Jnr, former PayPal CEO Peter Thiel and Coinbase’s ex-Chief Technology Officer Balaji Srinivasan, the firm’s aim of delivering a sporting event featuring athletes using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) will next year in Vegas become reality.
Lots on the line
The inaugural Games at Resorts World in May will include weightlifting, sprinting, and swimming. Winners will pocket up to $500,000 per event, with a $1m bonus on offer for breaking world records in the 100m sprint or 50m freestyle disciplines.
Gkolomeev has already won $1m
In the latter category, Greek-Bulgarian swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev has already won $1m through the Enhanced Games. In February, the athlete recorded a time of 20.89sec in the 50m freestyle. Gkolomeev’s time broke the official world record held since 2009.
The event, and the concept, have many detractors, chief among them the World Anti-Doping Agency. In a statement released after the Vegas event was confirmed, the world body said PEDs “have taken a terrible physical and mental toll on many athletes” through history, with deaths involved.
“Clearly this event would jeopardize [athletes’ health and well-being] by promoting the abuse of powerful substances and methods that should only be prescribed, if at all, for specific therapeutic needs.”
The anti-doping body’s CEO, Travis Tygart spoke in plainer terms when he stated the Games would be “a dangerous clown show, not real sport.”
Social media abuzz
From the responses on social media to the Games in Vegas, the majority are positive-curious and welcoming to the idea.
In response to Enhanced Games, X user Greg Boser wondered why the idea took so long to become reality. He also added the Games “might actually get me to go back” to Resorts World.
How could NV Athletic Commission allow this?”
X user Frank Regina was among the minority of dissenters, stating he would “take the over on a very serious medical event happening during games.” He added: “How could NV Athletic Commission allow this?”
