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Enhanced Games

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The Enhanced Games is a planned international sports event where the athletes will not be subject to drug testing. It is headed by Aron D'Souza, an Australian businessman.[1][2][3] The event is meant to take place in 2025.[4] Reactions from the sporting world have been generally negative, with commentators highlighting the safety risks of encouraging performance-enhancing drug use.[5]

Content

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The Enhanced Games is meant to be the first event of its kind to support performance-enhancing drugs and not follow the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).[6] Performance-enhancing drugs will not be mandatory for participants.[7][8] Such an event has been discussed hypothetically for many years but never been realised.[9][10][11] Prosthetic limbs and shoe technology will be allowed.[5] Aron D'Souza, president of the organisation, says that for insurance reasons, only FDA-approved substances will be allowed.[12] According to D'Souza, athletes should also be categorised based on their chromosomal sex.[13]

The event, announced in June 2023, is intended to be annual and to include track and field, swimming, weightlifting, gymnastics, and combat sports. Originally planned for December 2024,[14][15][16] a specific date and location are not set as of June 2024,[17] and D'Souza estimates the number of athletes to be "maybe a couple of thousand".[1] Brett Fraser, chief athletics officer of the organisation, says that the planned included sports are a "core suite of products", and they can be improved upon in the future.[8] The scale will depend on funding, and the location is planned to be a university campus or similar facility in the southern United States.[18] D'Souza said in early 2024 that he now had the equity capital to fund the first event.[5]

By August 2023, representatives were saying that what would take place in 2024 would be a smaller "exhibition", with a "full event" taking place in 2025.[11][16] In February 2024, D'Souza said that the aftermath of recent events "accelerates all of our timelines."[19] CNN said in October 2023 that it was an open question whether the Games would ever take place.[18]

People

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Billionaire Peter Thiel invested in the organization

Aron D'Souza, an Australian businessman based in London, is president of the privately funded organisation.[20][1][6] He says he had the idea for the Enhanced Games in 2022 when noticing that many people at an American gym were obviously using steroids.[16] He was, together with billionaire Peter Thiel, involved in the 2013 Bollea v. Gawker lawsuit, which led to Gawker filing for bankruptcy. In 2015, he co-founded Sargon with Phillip Kingston.[21][22] D'Souza said,

Athletes are adults ... and they have a right to do with their body what they wish - my body, my choice; your body, your choice, ... And no government, no paternalistic sports federation, should be making those decisions for athletes - particularly around products that are FDA regulated and approved.[1]

If we cut out all the waste, the layers of bureaucracy, the needless building of infrastructure, this event can be delivered for virtually nothing, and we can use all the surplus profits to pay the athletes, to invest in R&D, build better and better technology and build a bigger and bigger event.[5]

D'Souza sees the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as corrupt and greedy, and wants to eradicate the WADA, which he calls an "anti-science police force for the IOC." He also argues that the Olympic system doesn't pay athletes enough,[5][4] and that the Olympics include too many sports that don't really matter.[19]

Olympians attached to the organisation include Brett Fraser, Roland Schoeman, and Christina Smith.[23][9] Other people include geneticist George Church.[6][24]

In January 2024, Enhanced Games announced that it had secured a multi-million-dollar investment round from venture capitalists, including Thiel and Balaji Srinivasan.[25][26]

The Australian swimmer and Olympic medalist James Magnussen said in February 2024 that he intends to come out of retirement to compete in the games in an attempt to break the 50m freestyle world record. D'Souza pledged a US$1 million prize if he did break it, and Magnussen said that he will " ... juice to the gills ... break it in six months".[27][28] He also said that the money could set him up for the next decade, that sport is about entertainment and is sometimes taken too seriously,[29] and "This is not for everyone, and it is certainly not something for young athletes."[30]

Reactions

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Fraser stated in July 2023 that over five hundred athletes had contacted him asking for more information.[8] In August, D'Souza said that he had 500 "sleeper athletes" who are "breaking world records in their basement and sending us videos of it" ready for competition.[16] In February 2024, he said that thousands of athletes interested in participating had contacted him.[4] CNN commented in October 2023 that so far none of these athletes appeared willing to speak publicly.[18] Magnussen said that other Australian swimmers had contacted him, expressing interest,[12] and D'Souza says that the first Enhanced Games will include athletes from the 2024 Summer Olympics.[31]

Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, said: "No one within athletics takes the Enhanced Games seriously."

Organizations

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The IOC stated, "If you want to destroy any concept of fair play and fair competition in sport, this would be a good way to do it. ... This is completely at odds with the idea and values of the Olympic Games."[19] The Australian Olympic Committee called the idea "dangerous and irresponsible."[32][33] A representative of the Swedish Olympic Committee said, "I see it as ill-conceived, short-sighted and foolhardy and something other than sport."[34] UK Anti-Doping said in a statement that "UKAD's mission is to protect sport from doping cheats. There is no place in sport for performance enhancing drugs, nor the Enhanced Games."[35]

Travis Tygart, CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), said: "farcical … likely illegal in many [US] states" and "a dangerous clown show, not real sport."[18] Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, said, "No one within athletics takes the Enhanced Games seriously."[36] WADA stated that it "warns athletes and support personnel, who wish to participate in clean sport, that if they were to take part in the Enhanced Games, they would risk committing anti-doping rule violations under the World Anti-Doping Code."[4] The CEO of Sports Medicine Australia said that no member of the organization had expressed support for the Enhanced Games in their capacity as healthcare professionals.[30]

The CEO of the Australian Sports Commission said, "I cannot see any responsible and ethical person thinking the Enhanced Games is even remotely sensible".[30] Rahul Gupta, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, stated that the Biden administration had deep concerns regarding the Enhanced Games.[37] The International Federation of Sports Medicine expressed worry that the Enhanced Games would exploit young people.[17]

Sports people

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Cyclist and Olympic gold medalist Anna Meares said "Unfair, unsafe — I just don't think this is the right way to go about sport."[20] Cyclist Joseph M. Papp, suspended for doping in 2006, referred to a 1988 Weekend Update skit, saying: "I don't think you'd actually see guys tearing their arms off ... A doping free-for-all just invites the most ambitious person to be the most reckless person, and to take the most drugs possible without literally killing themselves."[8][38] Badminton player Susan Egelstaff stated, "It cannot, and will not work. The danger is massive."[39] Swimmer and Olympic gold medalist Leisel Jones stated that while she would not participate herself due to the risks, she'd be interested in how fast people could get with doping, saying: "If this clears out people who ... are doing illegal things in sport, if that clears them out our clean sport, that would be wonderful."[40][41]

Swimmer and Olympic gold medalist Libby Trickett said it was understandable the Enhanced Games would attract fascination and interest, and that "I really, really, really hope that it's done under medical supervision because that's the only way I can kind of justify in my head something like this to go ahead."[42] Olympic swimmer Mark Foster expressed similar views, noting also that money has attraction.[43] Former Australian Football player Adam Cooney stated, "I would say that 90–95 per cent of the population would put their hand up and do [what James Magnussen did], they're not going to get anywhere near a world record obviously, but it is pretty enticing."[44]

Science and academia

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Andy Miah, professor of science communication and future media at the University of Salford, called the Enhanced Games a "provocation", saying that "... the significant risk of athletes excessively enhancing and risking significant health complications is unaddressed by their materials. There is no mention of medical oversight in the competition on the website, from what I can see." Fraser said that "Each athlete must be under clinical supervision."[15][8] and according to D’Souza, "We will focus on athlete safety by mandating athletes have pre-competition full-system clinical screenings including blood tests and EKGs."[18] Science writer Ronald Bailey said, "Let fans decide which play they prefer."[6] Grigory Rodchenkov, former head of the Moscow Anti-Doping Laboratory, said it was a "danger to health, to sport."[18] Academic John William Devine said that "In a sporting world in which inequality of opportunity is already rampant, the removal of the doping ban would only deepen an existing moral failing."[45]

Media

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The Spectator opined that "In any discipline, we seek only to discover who is the fastest, or the strongest, the most accurate or the most coordinated. What's absolutely crucial, at least as far as retaining spectator interest goes, is that the advantage is natural."[46] The Daily Telegraph's sports writer commented that "Remarkably it seems a more fleshed-out idea than the European Super League".[3] Cyclist wondered who would be willing to sponsor the event, noting that as of late July 2023, no sponsors were mentioned on the Enhanced Game's website.[8]

The Globe and Mail's journalist said, "I will admit, I am incredibly curious to see an "enhanced" person running faster than Usain Bolt, or swimming better than Michael Phelps. But I would not want to be that person, and I bet that neither will the serious athletes who have so far managed to avoid doping infractions."[47] The Independent said that while the sporting world has been mostly dismissive, "D’Souza is intelligent and well-connected, and he has brought down big targets before. So when he says it’s going to happen, he is deadly serious."[5] The Sydney Morning Herald's sport columnist said that "the Enhanced Games are a dangerous, iniquitous concept."[48] Outsports criticized D’Souza's use of LGBTQ language like "coming out" to describe athletes openly using performance-enhancing drugs.[49] D’Souza is an out gay man.[49]

The production companies More Better Productions and Ridley Scott Associates intend to co-produce a docuseries about the games. Rob McElhenney, founder of More Better Productions, was involved in the sports docuseries Welcome to Wrexham. The series is meant to follow athletes as they train for, and then compete in, the Enhanced Games.[50][51]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Enhanced Games: audacious plan for sporting event without drug testing". Australian Associated Press. 24 June 2023. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023 – via The Guardian.
  2. ^ Andres, Patrick (27 June 2023). "Enhanced Games Pitches Olympics-Style Competition for Doping Athletes". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  3. ^ a b Gibbs, Thom (30 June 2023). "In crazy world of the Enhanced Games you cannot call doping cheating any more". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d Keating, Steve (14 February 2024). "Athletes risk bans, health and death in Enhanced Games - WADA". Reuters. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
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  21. ^ Butler, Ben (24 January 2020). "Australian who helped Peter Thiel bankrupt Gawker sues ex-business partner". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
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  26. ^ "Venture capitalists Christian Angermayer, Peter Thiel and Balaji Srinivasan join funding for the Enhanced Games, the 21st Century Olympics without drug testing". Enhanced.org. 30 January 2024. Archived from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  27. ^ "James Magnussen to make swimming 'world record' attempt taking banned drugs". BBC News. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  28. ^ "Australian swimmer James Magnussen says he'll 'juice to the gills' to win $1.5m prize in Enhanced Games". Australian Associated Press. 8 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024 – via The Guardian.
  29. ^ McMurtry, Andrew (9 February 2024). "'What would you do for a million bucks?': James Magnussen truth amid Enhanced Games move". News.com.au. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  30. ^ a b c Mark, David (13 February 2024). "The Enhanced Games backers say they're testing the limits of human potential but the truth is far murkier". ABC News. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  31. ^ Williams, Rebecca (5 May 2024). "Enhanced Games president says Paris Olympians will be competing at his inaugural event". The Australian. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  32. ^ "Australian man plans Enhanced Games for doping athletes". Associated Press. 26 June 2023. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
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  35. ^ "UKAD statement on The Enhanced Games". UK Anti-Doping. 5 July 2023. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  36. ^ Davies, Daniel (2 February 2024). "A Drug-Friendly Olympics Just Took a Step Closer to Becoming a Reality". Men's Health. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
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  39. ^ Egelstaff, Susan (9 July 2023). "No place in sport for an Olympic-style Games for drug-takers". The Herald. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  40. ^ "Liesel Jones not against idea of Enhanced Games". The Canberra Times. 10 February 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  41. ^ Dampney, James (10 February 2024). "Swimming legend Leisel Jones has given her take on the Enhanced Games". News.com.au. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  42. ^ Ross, Isabella (13 February 2024). "There's an alternative Olympics where everyone is 'on drugs'". Mamamia. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  43. ^ "Enhanced Games: Mark Foster worried by 'dangerous' risks facing competitors". BBC Sport. 10 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  44. ^ "'Condom full of walnuts': Aussie Olympian's 'irresponsible' world record doping pledge slammed". News.com.au. 11 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024 – via Fox Sports.
  45. ^ Devine, John William (11 July 2023). "The Enhanced Games: letting athletes use drugs could lead to worse problems than cheating". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  46. ^ Reilly, Damian (26 June 2023). "Why the Enhanced Games won't work". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  47. ^ Cyr, Alex (13 January 2024). "Opinion: Will the Enhanced Games survive the stigma around doping in sports?". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 13 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  48. ^ Kane, Darren (16 February 2024). "The Enhanced Games will be many things, but they won't be sport". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  49. ^ a b Holmes, Jon (15 February 2024). "Co-opting 'coming out' for 'steroid Olympics' is crude and insulting". Outsports. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  50. ^ Yossman, K. J. (3 April 2024). "Rob McElhenney, Ridley Scott Associates Set Docuseries About New Doping-Friendly Sports Championship (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  51. ^ Lawton, Matt (3 April 2024). "Rob McElhenney to make Enhanced Games documentary". The Times. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
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