High-Octane Games, Akin to Olympic Steroid Enhancements, Scheduled for Las Vegas in the Following Year
The Enhanced Games, a groundbreaking international sports competition, is set to challenge the conventions of elite sport by openly embracing performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). Dubbed the "steroid Olympics," this event is poised to redefine athletic competition, with its first edition scheduled to take place on the Las Vegas Strip from May 21-24, 2026.
Founded by tech entrepreneur Aron D’Souza, the Games aim to create a movement rejecting anti-doping rules and promoting athlete autonomy in optimization, even if that involves substances currently banned in traditional sport. The competition will feature approximately 100 athletes competing across sprinting, swimming, and weightlifting disciplines, with events such as the 100m Sprint, 100m/110m Hurdles, and weightlifting's Snatch and Clean & Jerk.
The prize pools are substantial, with up to $500,000 USD available per event and a $1 million USD bonus for breaking world records in the 100m sprint and 50m freestyle. Early-stage investments for the Enhanced Games come from high-profile figures including billionaire Peter Thiel and venture capital fund 1789 Capital, which involves Donald Trump Jr., a prominent MAGA figure, along with Omeed Malik and Chris Buskirk.
Thousands of athletes have reportedly expressed interest in the Enhanced Games, including some from the 2024 Summer Olympics, though few have spoken publicly. Some claim that there are "sleeper athletes" who are training privately and breaking records in secret.
However, the Enhanced Games have sparked global backlash, with many experts and former anti-doping officials warning about significant health risks from excess doping and lack of medical safeguards. Critics argue that allowing doping could deepen existing inequalities in sport and does not simply lead to better performances as suggested by the founder.
Supporters, including some science writers, stress giving fans the choice to enjoy different types of sports competitions, leaving the judgment to spectators. The Enhanced Games represent a radical experiment in sports, challenging traditional sports paradigms and aiming to create "the Third Olympiad - a new era of athletic excellence."
References: [1] The Verge (2022). The Enhanced Games: A new, steroid-fueled Olympics knock-off. [online] Available at: https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/26/23428095/enhanced-games-steroid-olympics-las-vegas-2026-donald-trump-jr-1789-capital [2] The Guardian (2022). The Enhanced Games: the steroid Olympics is coming to Las Vegas. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/oct/26/the-enhanced-games-steroid-olympics-is-coming-to-las-vegas
- The Enhanced Games, due to its embrace of performance-enhancing drugs, is expected to shift the landscape of technology and sports, potentially stirring debates in the realm of general-news and entertainment.
- Aron D’Souza, the tech entrepreneur behind The Enhanced Games, envisions a future of athletic competition where technology and finance intersect, challenging conventional sports norms and promoting athlete autonomy.
- Gizmodo and other tech magazines have been following the development of The Enhanced Games, speculating on the implications this tech-driven sports event might have on the world of sports-betting and traditional sports.
- Despite the substantial prize pools and mounting interest from athletes, the Enhanced Games has stirred controversy in the technology and entertainment sectors, with critics warning about the health risks, increased inequalities, and questionable shots at athletic excellence.
- As the first edition of The Enhanced Games approaches, the technology industry and sports fanatics alike eagerly await its impact on sports and entertainment, with high expectations of redefining the concepts of athletic competition and potentially ushering a new era in the realm of sports and technology.
