"The games, set for 24 May, will not rival the Olympics in size or spectacle. A handful of athletics, swimming and strength-based events will take place. Sporting federations will not ratify any potential world records set there. Yet, athletes have signed up. As a sociologist working on substance use in sports and exercise, I think that dismissing their interest, or this event altogether, would be a mistake."
"Many, and perhaps all, of the people competing will use performance-enhancing drugs. But the Enhanced Games are not intended to be a drug free-for-all: only substances approved by the US Federal Drug Administration are permitted. And athletes must comply with US federal and Nevada state laws. Participants will be supported by medical professionals tasked with minimizing risks and signing athletes off as healthy to compete - although specific details of the event's harm-reduction plans are scarce."
"For example, how appropriate substances and doses will be determined and, crucially, how post-event care and substance-use cessation will be managed have not been disclosed. This omission can make it seem like performance-enhancing drugs are easy to use and stop - minimizing the complex care and risks involved."
"Sporting organizations have responded harshly. World Athletics president Sebastian Coe described the games as "bollocks" and said that athletes would be "moronic" to join. Travis Tygart, head of the US Anti-Doping Agency based in Colorado Springs, called it a "dangerous clown show". Some athletes have expressed ethical and health concerns."
Enhanced Games are scheduled for 24 May in Las Vegas and include a limited set of athletics, swimming, and strength-based events. Sporting organizations have criticized the event and warned athletes against participating. Competitors have signed up despite ethical and health concerns. The event is not designed as an unrestricted drug contest; only substances approved by the US Federal Drug Administration are permitted, and athletes must follow US federal and Nevada state laws. Medical professionals are intended to support participants by minimizing risks and clearing athletes as healthy to compete. Specific harm-reduction details are not fully disclosed, including how substances and doses are chosen and how post-event care and cessation are handled.
#performance-enhancing-drugs #sports-ethics #anti-doping-policy #harm-reduction #regulation-and-compliance
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