Enhanced Games: Pushing human potential or lethal circus?

Athletes in the Enhanced Games are allowed to use pharmaceuticals that are ordinarily banned in sports, provided the substances are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. The event launched in 2023 after earlier failed attempts and includes exhibition events featuring record claims. The first Games take place May 24 in Las Vegas, featuring 50 athletes across swimming, sprinting, and weightlifting. Each event offers a $500,000 purse, with $250,000 for first place, plus appearance fees and $1 million bonuses for world records in the 100m sprint and 50m freestyle. A purpose-built stadium seats 2,500. The Games claim safety through medical supervision and transparent use of legal, licensed, FDA-approved substances, while critics call the approach dangerous and argue the records lack sporting meaning.

"Substances must only be approved by the United States' Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a much lower bar than traditional sporting anti-doping organizations would employ. Launched in 2023, organizers promised thousands of athletes competing in five sports. After aborted attempts to start it earlier, and some "exhibition events" featuring what the Enhanced Games call a swimming world record, the first Enhanced Games take place on May 24 in Las Vegas. In the end, it will feature 50 athletes across three sports swimming, sprinting and weightlifting."

"There is plenty of money behind it, with each event offering a total purse of $500,000 (430,000), with $250,000 awarded to first place. There are also appearance fees and record-breaking bonuses, with $1 million for world records broken in the 100m sprint and swimming's 50m freestyle. A purpose-built stadium has a capacity of 2,500 for the event."

"The Games told DW their aims are to "unlock their [athlete's] best performances under the highest medical and clinical supervision transparently and safely using legal, licensed and approved FDA substances." Critics argue that any chemically-enhanced records are moot and the pursuit of them under such cicumstances is lethally dangerous."

""It's not a sporting event, it's a show, it's a circus," Michael Cepic, Chairman of the Central European Anti Doping Agency told DW. Cepic said the notion that the Games prioritize athlete safety is nonsensical. "There's just one simple thing everybody can understand. Pharmaceutical products are developed for people with diseases and sickness. If you use them when you have no such issues, it can't be good for your body.""

Read at www.dw.com