— Published on May 25, 2025

Doping, health, integrity : the criticized Holy Trinity of the Enhanced Games

EventsFOCUS Focus

“Redefining the limits of human performance.” This is the promise of the Enhanced Games, often presented as the "Doping Olympics." The idea was born in the mind of Aron D'Souza, an Australian businessman, and received support (among others) from the son of the President of the United States, Donald Trump Jr. It will come to fruition in 2026, in Los Vegas, as the project's leaders proudly announced on Wednesday. A strange signal two years before the Los Angeles Games.

"The World Anti-Doping Code is a wall"

For two years, Aron D'Souza and his associates have been communicating cheerfully about this competition, which embodies "the future of sport" in their eyes. The Olympic Movement has taken a beating: in 2023, the Enhanced Games' X account spoke of the IOC as a "organization founded by a racist French baron" and shared a caricature showing the IOC in the form of a leech, stuck on the back of an athlete. "The World Anti-Doping Code is a wall that blocks human evolution.", one can also read among the publications calling for "redefine the impossible".

Aron D'Souza wants above all to put an end to what he sees as general hypocrisy. "Nearly 44% of international athletes today admit to using banned substances, but only 1% of them get caught.", the project website reads, referring to a study carried out during the 2011 World Athletics Championships and the 2011 Pan Arab Games. “International competitions have turned into an unfair game of cat and mouse, with some athletes resorting to high-risk substances and practices. (…) The Enhanced Games allow the use of performance enhancers, ensuring that our competitions are fairer and safer for our athletes.” Allowing substances that are usually banned, for the benefit of performance, the health of athletes and the integrity of sport: this is the – very questionable – credo of the organizers.

A million dollars for a world record

From May 21 to 24, 2026, this project will take shape with three sports: athletics (100m, 100/110m hurdles), swimming (50 and 100m freestyle, 50 and 100m butterfly), and weightlifting (snatch, clean and jerk). To attract renowned athletes—and thus, by extension, attention and sponsors—the organizers are pulling out their wallets. All participants will receive a nice check, and the best performances will be recognized: breaking a world record will bring in $250.000. A million dollars is even promised for records broken in the 100 meters or 50 meters freestyle.

The idea has already convinced several swimmers: Australian James Magnussen (three-time Olympic medalist), Bulgarian Josif Miladinov (European vice-champion in the 100m butterfly in 2021), Ukrainian Andriy Govorov (world record holder in the 50m butterfly) and Greek Kristian Gkolomeev (four-time Olympic competitor, reigning European champion in the 50m freestyle). Gkolomeev already received his first check for "breaking" the distance record in February, as shown in the documentary "50 meters for history", which depicts the preparation of several athletes for the Enhanced Games.

Officials defend themselves by assuring that athletes will be supervised. An independent scientific and medical commission has been created. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Weightlifting Federation have expressed their opposition to the project, highlighting the danger it poses to the health and integrity of the sport. USADA boss Travis Tygart is also seeing red: “The people behind Enhanced Games may be looking to make a quick buck, but that profit would come at the expense of children around the world who believe they need to dope to achieve their dreams. The athletes currently training and competing in real, safe ways are the role models this world desperately needs. They are the ones who deserve our support—not a dangerous clown show that puts profit before principle.” Even more so with the prospect of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, 400 kilometers away.