It's like the Olympics - except steroids are allowed

May 24, 2026

The Enhanced Games, a controversial sporting competition launching in Las Vegas, allows and encourages athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs like testosterone and human growth hormone while competing for $25 million in prize money, including $1 million bonuses for breaking world records. Founded by entrepreneurs with backing from investors like Peter Thiel and Donald Trump Jr. , the event has attracted elite athletes such as Olympic silver medalist Ben Proud, who faces permanent exclusion from Britain's Olympic team for participating.

Who is affected

Elite athletes competing in the Enhanced Games (42 athletes total), including British swimmer Ben Proud, US sprinter Fred Kerley, strongman Hafthor Bjornsson, American sprinter Shania Collins, former GB sprinter Reece Prescod, and American swimmer Hunter Armstrong
Olympic governing bodies including UK Athletics, GB Aquatics, World Aquatics, and the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA)
Young people and children who may be influenced by normalization of performance-enhancing drugs
The broader sporting community and Olympic movement
Investors including Peter Thiel and Donald Trump Jr.
People experiencing body dysmorphia and social media users

What action is being taken

The inaugural Enhanced Games competition is being held on Sunday in Las Vegas with 42 athletes competing in track, weightlifting, and swimming
Athletes are using performance-enhancing drugs including testosterone, human growth hormone, and stimulants like Adderall (though some are competing clean)
The Enhanced Group company began trading on the New York Stock Exchange earlier this month
The competition is selling performance-enhancing medicine and supplements online
GB Aquatics is refusing future Olympic team selection for Ben Proud if he competes
Sports governing bodies are publicly rebuking athletes for participating

Why it matters

This event represents a fundamental challenge to the founding principles of competitive sport and anti-doping efforts that have defined athletics for decades. It raises serious public health concerns as experts warn about strokes, cardiovascular damage, and other risks from anabolic steroids and growth hormones. The normalization of performance-enhancing drugs could have cascading cultural effects beyond sports, particularly impacting young people already facing body dysmorphia and social media pressures. The substantial prize money ($25 million total, $1 million for world records) creates financial incentives that could pressure athletes to choose between their health and economic opportunity, fundamentally changing the calculation around doping in professional sports.

What's next

Ben Proud will attempt to break the world record in the 50m freestyle on Sunday
Hafthor Bjornsson will attempt to break his own deadlift record of 510kg
Hunter Armstrong plans to compete clean and then return to compete at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 (though whether he can remains unclear)
World Aquatics has threatened to ban any swimmers competing in the Enhanced Games

Read full article from source: BBC