Enhanced Games Chief: Las Vegas Event Could Reshape Doping Debate

In May 2026, Las Vegas will host the inaugural Enhanced Games, a controversial event that allows competitors to use performance-enhancing substances under medical supervision. The project aims to shift how fans and authorities think about doping in sport, according to its new chief executive.

What the Enhanced Games aim to change

The concept centers on controlled access to performance-enhancing drugs, paired with regular medical checkups and long-term monitoring after competition—up to five years. Proponents say this could move away from punitive testing toward a focus on athlete health and safety.

Critics, including many anti-doping groups, argue that the plan could increase risks and undermine fair play.

Event plan and roster

The opening program spans swimming, sprinting and weightlifting. Organisers have set up a base in a five-star hotel in Abu Dhabi where athletes can train between events while following supervised regimens.

So far, 21 athletes have signed up, including British swimmer Ben Proud, an Olympic silver medallist, and American sprint star Fred Kerley. Organisers expect the roster to grow to about 35 by the end of January, with around 50 competitors taking part in May.

Legal, leadership and future plans

The project faced a blanket ban from World Aquatics on any participant tied to Enhanced Games, and a high-profile £640 million lawsuit against the ban was dismissed in New York. The founder, Aron D'Souza, stepped down as chief executive, and Maximilian Martin, a 29-year-old former investment banker who later ran a bitcoin mining business, has taken the helm.

Leadership vision and expansion

Martin says the Games will be delivered to the highest sporting standards and hints at a biannual winter edition, along with time-trial attempts to chase world records. He also plans to broaden into other sports such as triathlon, aiming to let a doped athlete complete an Ironman-distance event in an unprecedented time.

Business model and audience strategy

Enhanced Games frame their events as a showcase for supervised medication and supplement programs, aiming to build partnerships with brands and sponsorships. Tickets are not yet the main revenue stream; the event will be streamed free on YouTube, and a small allotment of 2,500 tickets for a temporary Las Vegas arena will be given away rather than sold.

Expert perspective

Expert commentary: Health researchers warn that the long-term effects of performance-enhancing drugs are not fully understood, and more study is needed before any model can be considered safe. They also stress that athlete welfare and fairness remain central concerns.

Short summary

The Las Vegas debut of the Enhanced Games is designed to challenge traditional anti-doping norms by providing a regulated framework with medical oversight. Critics remain uneasy about potential health risks and the impact on fair competition. Organisers emphasize that the event is experimental and could influence how sports regulate doping in the future.

Key insight: The Enhanced Games aim to shift how doping is viewed by merging medical oversight with showpiece competition, though significant health and fairness questions persist. BBC Sport.

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