Inaugural Enhanced Games draw condemnation amid debate over performance-enhancing drugs
Forty-two athletes compete in a $25 million prize pool event that has been banned by World Athletics and World Aquatics, reflecting broader cultural trends in longevity and biohacking.
The inaugural Enhanced Games commenced in Las Vegas on Sunday, marking a significant divergence from traditional sporting regulations. Forty-two athletes competed across swimming, track and field, weightlifting, and strongman disciplines, utilising performance-enhancing substances approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The event, which featured a $25 million prize pool including up to $1 million for breaking world records, has drawn sharp condemnation from major international sporting bodies.
Organisers defended the competition’s framework, stating that all substances were medically supervised and intended to push the boundaries of human performance. The event also permitted "technological doping," a concept supported by the inclusion of advanced equipment. This stance mirrors historical precedents, such as the polyurethane "super" swimsuits that improved performance significantly before being banned by Olympic governing bodies following record-breaking performances in 2008 and 2009.
The response from the established sporting community was immediate and severe. World Athletics and World Aquatics both banned participants from their respective events. World Athletics president Sebastian Coe described the athletes as “moronic,” while World Aquatics explicitly prohibited Enhanced Games competitors from its activities. Critics argue the event promotes unsafe drug use and undermines the integrity of clean sport.
The games are situated within a broader 2026 cultural context characterised by longevity trends and biohacking. Enhanced, the company behind the event, operates an online store selling prescription drugs and compounded growth hormones marketed for wellness and longevity. Although some of these substances have FDA approval for specific medical conditions, such as growth failure in children, the compounded versions sold online are not approved for the anti-aging or vitality purposes promoted by the retailer.
This commercialisation of enhancement aligns with wider societal shifts towards self-optimisation. With biohacking shortlisted for Collins Dictionary’s Word of the Year in 2025 and unproven anti-aging treatments gaining funding and accessibility in regions such as Montana, the Enhanced Games reflect a growing acceptance of performance modification. Despite the controversy, the event has generated significant attention, highlighting the tension between medical innovation, commercial interests, and traditional sporting ethics.
