Athletes competing in the inaugural Enhanced Games have defended the controversial event, insisting they are competing safely, transparently, and for life-changing financial rewards that mainstream sport has long failed to provide. The competition is set to take place at Resorts World Las Vegas on Sunday, with organisers billing it as a landmark moment in the history of sport, while critics have labelled it the 'Doping Olympics.'
What Are the Enhanced Games?
The Enhanced Games allow athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision. The event has been condemned by the World Anti-Doping Agency as a 'dangerous and irresponsible concept,' and governing bodies including World Aquatics and Aquatics GB have distanced themselves. However, the athletes themselves have been forthright in their defence, pushing back against claims of dishonesty.
American sprinter Shania Collins stated, 'There's been a lot of pushback and condemnation, especially regarding the integrity of fair play. But we are being upfront, honest, and transparent from the start. We are saying we are taking performance-enhancing drugs. So how could you challenge our integrity when we're coming forward with the information, versus some of your favourites who say they're clean when they're really not?'
Financial Incentives Drive Participation
Collins retired from professional athletics partly because she felt she was competing against athletes who were not clean. The transparency of the Enhanced Games was a key draw. 'I felt like it was unfair. I was lining up against girls who I knew weren't clean, and I was doing my absolute best,' she said. 'That sense of injustice, combined with the financial reality of elite sport, drove me towards the Games.' Prize money includes $1 million for breaking world records, far exceeding what most Olympic-level athletes earn across entire careers.
British swimmer Ben Proud, a ten-year fixture in world championship 50m butterfly finals, was equally direct. Asked whether his participation was about money or proving a point, he said, 'It's about the money. I don't think I've got anything to prove. This is my stepping stone for the next three years.'
Medical Oversight and Athlete Experiences
Hunter Armstrong, Olympic gold medalist in the 4x100m medley relay at Paris 2024, is competing without taking performance-enhancing substances, aiming for the Los Angeles 2028 Games. He described the Enhanced Games as 'first and foremost, a show. Sports is entertainment. I like to put on a show and make people smile.'
Collins described her first injection as a moment of genuine anxiety, eased by extensive medical oversight. 'I was very nervous, but I had the whole team around us, and we had extensive meetings on the risks. The nerves eased the more I met with the doctors.' Both athletes reported positive effects such as increased strength, faster recovery, and improved mental clarity, with minor negatives like acne and hair growth. Proud reported water retention but nothing more serious, monitored by leading doctors in Abu Dhabi.
Concerns About Normalising Drug Use
The Enhanced Games has faced questions over whether it could normalise drug use among younger athletes. Armstrong said, 'That would be a concern of mine. I definitely do not want to see any unsafe procedures or enhancements, especially at a young age.' Proud added, 'I would not advise young people to enhance. This is me, a 31-year-old who sees a fantastic opportunity for me and my family.' Collins argued that with proper medical support, enhancement does not have to be dangerous, citing extensive MRI, heart, and brain scans before any substances were administered.
World Records and Separate Categories
On world records, Collins said, 'I can see why people would think the world record wouldn't count. But I think it would shed light on what we can do if PEDs were introduced to sport.' Proud agreed, stating, 'In our world they're the world records. In the swimming world, they'll be the enhanced world records. They're two very different things.' Armstrong described the event in theatrical terms, emphasising its entertainment value.
