A new Olympic-style sporting event, the Enhanced Games, is set to debut in Las Vegas next May, featuring athletes who can use performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision. The event aims to “embrace what organizers call ‘superhumanity’ – a future where pharmaceutical and technological enhancement is normalized in elite competition.”
Critics are raising concerns about safety, fairness, and the integrity of sport. Organizations such as the World Anti-Doping Agency have warned that the event could lead to abuse of powerful substances, putting athletes at risk.
The Enhanced Games’ founder, Aron D’Souza, argues that current anti-doping policies are outdated and hypocritical. However, some critics view the event as a provocation, challenging elite sporting institutions and anti-doping agencies.
Athletes from around the world are being recruited for the event, which promises substantial prize money and the opportunity to explore human potential. Organizers maintain they will not tolerate abuse of illicit substances, but enforcement relies on partnership rather than oversight.
The Enhanced Games’ involvement in high-profile funding rounds has also sparked controversy, with investors including Donald Trump Jr, Omeed Malik, and Chris Buskirk. The event’s slogan, “Live Enhanced,” has raised questions about the event’s vision for sport and its potential impact on the world of athletics.
As the Enhanced Games move forward, it remains to be seen whether they will gain public acceptance or face backlash from regulators, governments, and federations.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/may/21/enhanced-games-las-vegas-dates-trump-jr-thiel