The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) has expressed serious concerns that the upcoming Enhanced Games could encourage more young individuals to experiment with performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). This stark warning precedes the inaugural competition of the controversial $50 million event, scheduled for Sunday in Las Vegas. The Enhanced Games permits athletes to use substances typically banned in elite sports, including testosterone, EPO, and human growth hormone, while offering substantial prizes for victories and record-breaking performances.
Enhanced Games: A Controversial Concept
Organizers of the Enhanced Games, which features track and field, swimming, and weightlifting in its debut, have branded the event as “the future of sports and human performance.” High-profile participants include U.S. sprinter Fred Kerley, a silver medalist in the 100m at the 2021 Olympics and bronze medalist in Paris 2024; British swimmer Ben Proud; and Australian swimmer James Magnussen. However, Wada has strongly criticized the event, stating that it “goes against everything Wada stands for” and that it leverages elite athletes to promote banned substances and anti-aging products to a potentially uninformed audience.
Wada’s Concerns Over Health Risks
Wada’s spokesperson emphasized that the Enhanced Games is a “dangerous and irresponsible concept.” The agency is particularly worried that events featuring top athletes endorsing PED use could tempt more people, especially the youth, to try these drugs. “This obviously goes against everything Wada stands for,” the spokesperson added. While Enhanced Games organizers argue that the substances are safe under medical supervision, citing FDA approval, Wada countered that FDA approval does not guarantee risk-free use. “These powerful drugs can cause serious harm – sometimes immediately, sometimes months or years later,” the spokesperson warned. Examples include steroids increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and liver damage; human growth hormone potentially triggering diabetes, heart problems, and abnormal organ growth; and exogenous testosterone leading to hypertension, heart attack, blood clots, infertility, testicular shrinkage, increased aggression, anxiety, and depression.
Risks of Drug Stacking
Wada also raised alarms about the practice of “stacking” multiple drugs to enhance performance, a method openly discussed by some Enhanced Games athletes, such as Canadian strongman Mitchell Hooper. “The reality is that sports medicine still doesn’t fully understand the long-term consequences of stacking multiple substances together at the doses elite athletes might use to chase records,” Wada’s spokesperson stated.
