The Enhanced Games will debut in Las Vegas on May 24, allowing athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision in a direct challenge to traditional anti-doping rules.
Organisers say the one-day competition will feature track, swimming, weightlifting and strength events. The format permits substances barred by the World Anti-Doping Agency, while organisers argue that medical oversight makes enhancement more transparent.
The World Anti-Doping Agency has condemned the Enhanced Games as a “dangerous and irresponsible concept.” WADA said the event could normalise drug use in sport and expose athletes to health risks.
The Enhanced Games in Las Vegas allow athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs despite major health risks.
DW follows Colombian swimmer Isabella Arcila to see why athletes take the risk. pic.twitter.com/JnnOSM7Y4D
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) May 22, 2026The Associated Press reported that about 50 athletes were invited to compete, with prize money of up to $1 million for unofficial record-breaking performances. Mainstream bodies such as World Athletics will not recognise those marks as official records.
Read: Fred Kerley Becomes First Track Player Joins Enhanced Games
The event has drawn attention from former Olympic-level athletes, including swimmers and track competitors. Sky Sports reported that British athletes Ben Proud, Emily Barclay and Reece Prescod were among the listed participants.
The Enhanced Games are scheduled for global streaming, with organisers presenting the event as a test of individual choice, athlete pay and scientific performance. Critics say it risks turning elite sport into a medically controlled experiment.
