In Las Vegas last month, the inaugural Enhanced Games brought together 42 elite athletes to compete in weightlifting, track, and swimming events under conditions that openly permitted the use of performance-enhancing drugs typically banned in traditional sports. The competition, sponsored by the pharmaceutical company Enhanced, encouraged participants to use substances such as testosterone, human growth hormone, anabolic steroids, stimulants, and erythropoietin (EPO) as part of individualized drug regimens developed with medical oversight.
The event, sometimes referred to as the “Steroid Olympics,” aimed not only to showcase athletic feats but also to promote the normalization of chemically assisted physical optimization. Enhanced, which markets these substances online to the general public, stated its intent to collect and publish data from the athletes as scientific research. However, many of the health risks associated with these drugs are well documented. EPO has been linked to increased risks of heart attacks and strokes, anabolic steroids to liver and kidney damage and sudden cardiac death, while human growth hormone carries potential risks including cancer, diabetes, and joint problems. Some drugs may also impair fertility, prompting at least one female athlete to freeze her eggs prior to beginning her regimen — a procedure reportedly funded by the company.
Despite the widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs, the athletes failed to set new world records in most events. Only one swimmer broke a world record, but did so while wearing a specialized polyurethane full-body suit that has been banned from competition since 2010 due to its significant performance advantage. The weightlifters and runners also fell short of record-breaking performances despite multiple attempts.
Financial incentives appeared to be a major motivating factor for participants, with prize money totaling $250,000 for winners and record bonuses reaching up to $1 million. Many athletes noted that their earnings from this event far exceeded typical salaries in their sports. The event received an estimated $20 million investment to construct a temporary venue in Las Vegas.
Major sports organizations and observers criticized the event for undermining the integrity of competitive sports and for potentially influencing young athletes toward dangerous drug use. The spectacle, they argued, represents a troubling shift in the concept of wellness. Traditionally associated with preventive health measures such as exercise, diet, and avoiding harmful substances, wellness is increasingly being redefined around pharmacological “optimization” and biohacking — the use of drugs and supplements by healthy individuals seeking enhanced performance or youthfulness.
Enhanced’s online platform offers a range of drugs to consumers without medical conditions, including GLP-1 medications for weight loss, testosterone for increased vitality, and various supplements aimed at anti-aging. This business model raises concerns about the safety and ethics of encouraging widespread self-experimentation with potent pharmaceuticals.
Notably, the event attracted high-profile names both in investment and attendance, including Donald Trump Jr. as an investor and the son of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. present at the competition. The games reflect ongoing debates around “medical freedom” and the expanding cultural acceptance of pharmacologically enhanced lifestyles.