World Athletics president Sebastian Coe has condemned plans for an Enhanced Games that would permit performance-enhancing drugs, warning that any athlete who takes part will face a lengthy ban. The event, backed by venture capitalists including billionaire Peter Thiel, has been dubbed “the Olympics of the future” by organisers and will feature athletics, swimming, weightlifting, gymnastics and combat sports.
Former swimming champion James Magnussen recently came out of retirement to compete in the Games, aiming to break the 50m freestyle record for a $1m prize. However, Coe was dismissive when asked about the event at a press conference for the world indoor championships in Glasgow. “It’s bollocks isn’t it?” he said. “I can’t really get excited about it. There’s only one message, and that is if anybody is moronic enough to officially take part in it, and they are in the traditional part of our sport, they’ll get banned for a long time.”
Men’s 800m world record-holder David Rudisha supported Coe’s stance, stating: “The integrity of the sport needs to be protected at all times. This is not a good thing and just brings a lot of confusion to people and sponsors.”
Coe also reaffirmed World Athletics’ commitment to trialling new proposals, such as a “take-off zone” in the long jump, despite negative reactions. He noted that 31% of long jump attempts fail with the traditional wooden board, and that research from the Budapest world championships showed spectators leaving during some events. “We’re not going to back off innovation here,” Coe said. “We have a responsibility to futureproof the sport.”
