Enhanced Games: What are they, who is behind them, and who will be competing?

Las Vegas is not unfamiliar to hosting sporting events, both weird, wonderful and often controversial. This weekend the Enhanced Games take place in the city on Sunday.

They have never happened before nor has an event quite like it taken place.

For many the Games sit ill at ease due to the fact that athletes competing are allowed to take substances, performance enhancing medication or drugs, that would under International anti-doping rules see an athlete banned from competing at any World Cup, Olympics or World Championship.

GB Olympic medallist leaves 'traditional swimming' to join Enhanced Games

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While the Games in terms of anti-doping bear no comparison with how World Cups, Olympics and World Championships are policed by WADA (World Anti-doping Agency) and National Anti-doping Agencies, at the 2026 Enhanced Games only substances approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can be taken.

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It is however very different and far more lenient to the list WADA allows for elite athletes leading to the moniker giving to the Enhanced Games by some as the "Steroid Olympics."

The Games are scheduled to take place on Sunday May 24 at a specially built indoor arena at Resorts World in Las Vegas. According to Enhanced Games and their list of athletes competing across four disciplines of track, swimming, weightlifting and strongman, there are 42 athletes due to compete including three British athletes; swimmers Ben Proud and Emily Barclay and sprinter Reece Prescod.

An Australian businessman called Aron D'Souza had the idea for The Enhanced Games reportedly after noticing many people at a gym in the US were using steroids.

Co-founders include Maximilian Martin who has since replaced D'Souza as Chief Executive, Martin is an investment banker and bitcoin entrepreneur. German biotech billionaire Christian Angermayer is also a co-founder.

The Games has also secured investment from several crypto-currency investors and venture capital firms including '1789 Capital' a firm owned by Donald Trump Jnr, son of the US President.

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According to their information The Enhanced Games is a "new global sports competition designed to push the boundaries of human performance. The Games challenge traditional models of sport by embracing science, innovation, and measurable performance enhancement under regulated conditions."

Organisers say their goal is "simple" - to "allow elite athletes to dedicate themselves fully to pushing the limits of human capability."

On offer for athletes is the opportunity to explore what their bodies can achieve performance-wise IF they choose to take performance enhancing drugs (PED's).

Not all athletes who have signed up for the Enhanced Games actually intend to take any PED's. There is significant financial reward on offer- a $25 million prize pot (£17.1m) with some athletes set to take home $1m for their efforts in Las Vegas if they break existing legal world records.

Since it's inception, The Enhanced Games has made other arguments to it's relevance citing financial rewards for elite athletes, for example that many athletes who compete at Olympic Games which are administered by the IOC feel underpaid.

It is well known that the IOC redistribute the vast majority of what finances it makes, but not towards renumeration for athletes.

While there are debates around existing anti-doping measures as to their effectiveness leading to a view from Enhanced Games supporters that the current anti-doping landscape is failing so why not try another way? One where PED's are allowed under controlled conditions.

Clearly the issue of safety, clean sport and fair play are issues which organisers of the Enhanced Games versus many other agencies, administrators, Governments and many athletes all clash and disagree.

Where Enhanced Games organisers believe the pursuit of scientific and athletics excellence with medical safety protocols are the future, the opposite view is where no doping of any kind can be safe and athletes future health is being risked while the notion of a 'level-playing field' and a drug-free sporting world is at risk.

Perhaps the most well known British athlete who has joined the Enhanced Games is Team GB Olympic swimmer Ben Proud. He won a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics swimming the 50m freestyle while he is a three-time World Champion across long course and short course in freestyle and butterfly.

In September 2025, Proud announced he was to retire from International swimming to pursue an opportunity with the Enhanced Games. In doing so he knew he would be banned from competing internationally if he ever chose to try to return.