The new and controversial Olympics-style sporting event, where athletes will be allowed – and even encouraged – to use performance-enhancing substances, will debut in Las Vegas from May 21 to 24, 2026, according to organizers’ announcement on Wednesday. This first edition of the Enhanced Games will be held at Resorts World, located on the Las Vegas Strip. Over four days, competitors will participate in races, weightlifting, and swimming with full access to therapies and substances banned in almost all elite sports settings.
Presented as a revolution in sport and science, the event aims to normalize what organizers call “superhumanity,” a future where pharmacological and technological enhancements are accepted in elite competition. According to the promotional materials for the Enhanced Games, “we are creating a new category of human excellence, where performance-enhancing substances are used safely, openly, and under medical supervision.”
The proposed model allows athletes to compete naturally, follow independent enhancement protocols, or participate in clinical trials with FDA-approved drugs. Aron D’Souza, the event’s founder, stated: “The Enhanced Games are renovating the Olympic model for the 21st century, embracing advances in medical and technological science.”
Controversies over safety and sports ethics
Despite promises of thorough medical screenings and oversight by independent scientific and ethics boards, athletes will not be subject to traditional anti-doping tests. Instead, they will be required to disclose the substances they use, a model that some critics liken to a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy for doping in sports.
The World Anti-Doping Agency expressed its concerns: “Throughout history, performance-enhancing substances have taken a terrible physical and mental toll on athletes. This event jeopardizes their health by promoting the abuse of powerful substances.” Meanwhile, Travis Tygart, CEO of the US Anti-Doping Agency, described the event as “a dangerous clown show, not real sport.”
Million-dollar prizes and records at stake
The Enhanced Games will offer significant prizes, with up to $500,000 per event and a $1 million bonus for those who break the world records in the 100-meter sprint or the 50-meter freestyle. In February, swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev surpassed the world record in the 50-meter freestyle with a time of 20.89 seconds, although he wore a polyurethane suit not approved by the International Swimming Federation, sparking further ethical debates.
The event has also drawn attention for its sponsors. Among the investors are 1789 Capital, led by Donald Trump Jr., and Peter Thiel, known for his libertarian views and support of controversial biotech projects. According to D’Souza, “the support of prominent figures in American social and political life is more important to us than any investment.”
A parallel model to traditional sports
Organizers insist they are not seeking to replace Olympic records or discredit traditional sports but to create a parallel category that explores the limits of human potential. However, the lack of confirmed broadcast partners or marquee athletes raises questions about the event’s viability. For now, the Enhanced Games move forward with their defiant slogan: “Live Enhanced.” Their success or failure could redefine the ethical boundaries of sports in the future.
