Have you ever wondered, how fast can a human actually run, or how fast can that guy really swim? Next year, the first Enhanced Games are set to take place in Nevada, Las Vegas to put athletes to the ultimate test. The first of its kind, where doping and steroids are actively encouraged.
But just what is it? The Enhanced Games were founded by Australian business man Dr Aron D’Souza. He has founded multiple companies and businesses, written many books and in 2014 Mens Style magazine named him one of Australia’s most influential men.
It aims to allow all athletes to compete using performance enhancing drugs to push their bodies to new levels, in order to try and break world records for cash prizes.
Dr D’Souza believes that athletes should have full control over their own bodies and he thinks that the International Olympic Committee is corrupt for not allowing athletes that control.
He also believes that the Olympics and other organizations are not paying their athletes enough, and has incentivised his Games through funding and cash rewards.
Shane Ryan is an American born swimmer who has represented Ireland on an international stage across multiple events. He represented Ireland in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo 2021 and in Paris 2024.
He has claimed medals across the European championships and internationally, while also holding a number of Irish national records and titles.
He announced his retirement this year from competitive swimming at 31 years of age.
Since the news of his newest career move to join the Enhanced Games, Ryan has faced heavy criticism online. Sports Ireland are “deeply disappointed” in his decision.
“Performance-enhancing drugs aren’t just banned because they can give athletes an unfair advantage. Many are banned because they can seriously harm athletes’ health. Some of these substances can cause severe, long-lasting medical problems. In extreme cases, athletes have died from using these dangerous drugs.”
Anyone who breaks a world record will receive $250,000. If the 100m sprint record or the 50m freestyle swimming record is broken they will receive a bonus of $1 million.
They provide intense medical screening, heart and brain monitoring alongside urine and genomic sequencing in order to ensure the athletes health.
Many organisations are worried about the message of fairness and a level playing field will be lost, and that many young athletes may lose sight of the importance of equality within sports.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has condemned the games, calling them dangerous and an irresponsible concept. They state that the games are not centred around players’ wellbeing and health and warn athletes about the health risks, even death using performance enhancing drugs.
They also condemn the athletes taking part, stating that they are setting the wrong standard for younger sports people and damaging their own sporting reputation.
Any athletes taking part run the risk of violating the World Anti-Doping Code and potentially breaking criminal law and professional rules in their represented country. They also are at risk of losing the privilege of representing their country on an international stage.
The Enhanced Games states on their website that they are separate from the Olympics and “are founded on very different ideas about financial fairness and a level playing field in elite sport.”
The games are funded through independent successful capitalists, their selling point being they are not relying on government or tax payer money to fund their activities.
