Two accomplished Canadian athletes are among the participants in the upcoming debut of the Enhanced Games this weekend, a controversial event that some consider the future of sports while others view it as a downfall.
The Enhanced Games, a global multi-sport competition established by Australian entrepreneur Aron D’Souza, permits athletes to engage in competition while utilizing performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) prohibited in traditional international sports. D’Souza introduced the concept as “a movement” at an event in May, emphasizing transparency, science, and choice.
The event, set against the vibrant backdrop of the Las Vegas strip, is scheduled for this Sunday, with an estimated 2,500 invite-only spectators anticipated to attend. Winners in each category stand to receive $250,000 US, with a promise of $1 million US for those breaking world records in the 100-metre sprint and 50-metre butterfly. However, any records set will not be recognized by conventional sports governing bodies.
Among the 42 athletes from various countries participating in events such as track and field, weightlifting, strongman, and swimming, are Mitchell Hooper, a two-time World’s Strongest Man champion, and Boady Santavy, a Pan Am/Commonwealth Games record holder and two-time Olympic weightlifter, who are the sole representatives from Canada. Santavy expressed his motivation to compete due to the long-standing doping issues in his sport, stating that the competition offers a “level playing field.”
Critics, including the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), argue that the Enhanced Games legitimize doping and pose a risk of normalizing the use of potentially harmful PEDs, going against the efforts of anti-doping organizations to eliminate banned substances from elite sports. Despite the backlash, Enhanced Games defends its position, claiming to provide a fair and equitable platform in a sports industry marred by corruption.
The controversy surrounding the event has sparked debates over the ethical implications of allowing athletes to use performance-enhancing substances, with concerns raised by various organizations about the event’s impact on the future of sports and athletes’ well-being. As the debate continues, the Enhanced Games proceed, challenging the existing norms and regulations in the world of competitive sports.
To watch the opening events of the Enhanced Games, a live stream will be available on Sunday starting at 6:30 p.m. ET on Roku in North America and internationally on the games’ YouTube channel. The closing ceremony will feature a performance by The Killers later that evening.