The Enhanced Games, a new sporting competition that openly permits performance-enhancing drugs, will take place Sunday in Las Vegas with 42 athletes competing for substantial prize money. The event marks a direct challenge to traditional anti-doping rules that govern international sports, drawing sharp criticism from the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Olympic Committee.
The one-day competition features Olympic medalists among its roster of competitors, with winners earning $250,000 per event and a $1 million bonus available for any athlete who breaks a world record. The event was founded by Aron D’Souza and has received financial backing from tech billionaire Peter Thiel and a venture fund supported by Donald Trump Jr.
Athletes and Drug Protocols at the Enhanced Games
The competition includes several high-profile Olympic medalists. U.S. swimmer Cody Miller, Irish swimmer Shane Ryan, swimmer Ben Proud, and sprinter Fred Kerley are among the participants. Tristan Evelyn of Barbados, who holds national records in the 60 and 100 meters, has also joined the event.
Athletes had the option to participate in a 12-week supervised drug trial conducted in Abu Dhabi prior to the competition. Of the 36 athletes who took part in the trial, 34 used performance-enhancing drugs while 2 trained naturally. The data revealed that 91 percent of the athletes who doped used testosterone or testosterone esters, while 79 percent used human growth hormone.
The Enhanced Games has established five approved drug categories for competitors: testosterone esters, anabolic agents, peptides and growth factors, metabolic modulators, and stimulants. The organization has promised a total prize pool of $25 million.
What We Know So Far
The Enhanced Games represents an unprecedented approach to professional athletics. Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev broke the 50-meter freestyle world record last year at an Enhanced Games private event, demonstrating the potential for drug-assisted performances to exceed existing records.
Cody Miller has embraced the opportunity, stating that the old rulebook is gone. The Olympic medalist did not respond to requests for comment for the current reporting.
Shane Ryan has spoken candidly about the financial motivations behind his participation. The Irish swimmer explained the economic realities facing Olympic athletes, saying that at the end of the day Olympic athletes do not get paid a lot of money.
Ryan detailed his own financial struggles, noting he was earning 18,000 euros annually, which he described as below minimum wage for a whole year’s worth of hours and hours and hours. He emphasized that Olympic athletes do not make a lot of money, despite dedicating over a decade to their sport. Ryan was training at the Paris Olympics in July 2024.
Australian swimmer James Magnussen has described the event as the first time that there has been a level playing field where he can compete against other drug cheats.
Some athletes who joined the Enhanced Games have faced professional consequences, with reports indicating that some participants have been dropped by their agents.
International Condemnation from Anti-Doping Bodies
The World Anti-Doping Agency has labeled the Enhanced Games a dangerous and irresponsible concept. WADA President Witold Banka issued a direct warning about the message the event sends.
Banka stated that the Enhanced Games sends a dangerous message to young people around the world who may wish to follow in their footsteps, referring to the athletes participating in the drug-permitted competition.
The IOC and WADA athlete commissions have jointly condemned participation in such events as a betrayal of everything that we stand for and described it as utterly irresponsible and immoral.
Dr. Adrian Lorde, chairman of the Barbados National Anti-Doping Commission, offered a measured response to the situation. He acknowledged that officials have to be careful how we deal with these cases, but made the position of his organization clear.
From the national anti-doping point of view, I would say we are disappointed and we advise persons not to take part in the Enhanced Games, Dr. Lorde stated.
Business Model and Corporate Structure
The Enhanced Games has expanded beyond athletics into the business sector. The company went public as Enhanced Group in May 2026, signaling ambitions beyond a single sporting event.
The financial backing from prominent investors has provided the organization with significant resources. Peter Thiel, the technology billionaire, has invested in the venture alongside a fund backed by Donald Trump Jr.
The prize structure offers substantial incentives for athletes. Each event winner receives $250,000, with an additional $1 million available for any competitor who breaks an existing world record. The organization has committed to a total prize pool of $25 million.
Context of Doping in International Sports
The Enhanced Games arrives amid ongoing discussions about drug use in professional athletics. A Chinese swimmers doping scandal was reported in 2024, with references to Chinese swimmers testing positive prior to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
The event positions itself as an alternative to traditional competition structures that prohibit performance-enhancing substances. By openly permitting drugs under supervised conditions, the organization argues it creates transparency around practices that critics say already occur covertly in mainstream athletics.
What Happens Next
The Sunday competition in Las Vegas will serve as a public test of the Enhanced Games concept. The 42 athletes will compete across multiple events, with the organization monitoring outcomes and athletic performances.
The company’s recent public listing as Enhanced Group suggests plans for expansion beyond the Las Vegas event. However, specific details about future competitions or the regulation of the company’s telehealth products remain unclear.
Anti-doping authorities have made their opposition clear, but the event has not been banned. The condemnations from WADA and the IOC represent strong disapproval rather than formal prohibition of the competition.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where are the Enhanced Games taking place?
The Enhanced Games will take place Sunday in Las Vegas. The exact venue within the city has not been specified.
How much prize money can athletes win at the Enhanced Games?
Winners earn $250,000 per event. Athletes who break a world record receive an additional $1 million bonus. The total promised prize pool is $25 million.
What drugs are allowed at the Enhanced Games?
Five categories of performance-enhancing drugs are approved: testosterone esters, anabolic agents, peptides and growth factors, metabolic modulators, and stimulants. Athletes could participate in a supervised 12-week drug trial before the competition.
Which Olympic athletes are competing in the Enhanced Games?
Olympic medalists participating include U.S. swimmer Cody Miller, Irish swimmer Shane Ryan, swimmer Ben Proud, and sprinter Fred Kerley. Barbados Olympian Tristan Evelyn, who holds national records in the 60 and 100 meters, has also joined.
Who is funding the Enhanced Games?
The event was founded by Aron D’Souza and has received funding from tech billionaire Peter Thiel and a venture fund backed by Donald Trump Jr. The company went public as Enhanced Group in May 2026.
The Enhanced Games represents a significant departure from established norms in professional athletics. As 42 athletes prepare to compete Sunday in Las Vegas under rules that openly permit performance-enhancing drugs, international sports bodies have made their opposition clear while the organization proceeds with its inaugural public event.
