'It's just a sales conference': Critic claims 'dangerous' hidden motive behind Enhanced Games
The Enhanced Games is set to make its highly controversial debut on May 24.
Dubbed a 'sci-fi' event hitting the Las Vegas streets, the premise of the competition centres on elite athletes pushing the boundaries of human performance using performance-enhancing drugs.
Critics argue the event is simply a vehicle for billionaires to profit off branded peptides by having "juiced-up" athletes compete against each other.
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"I think it's a dangerous gimmick. It feels like it's just a sales conference for these companies to sell their peptides," said Jack Charles on Nine's Today Extra.
"The idea you've got an athlete that's competing saying that he's going to be juiced up to the gills is kind of frightening. It doesn't even feel real."
James Magnussen put on a huge amount of size preparing for the Enhanced Games. Enhanced Games
While multiple athletes around the world have vocally dismissed the event, which is spearheaded by Australian businessman Aron D'Souza, organisers continue to promote it as a groundbreaking demonstration of human physical potential, free from the anti-doping regulations of traditional sports.
What is the Enhanced Games?
On the Enhanced Games official website, the organisation markets the event as "a new global sports competition where elite athletes push the limits of human performance."
A privately-funded event, it allows - and encourages - athletes to compete while using performance-enhancing drugs.
The event will bring together 40 elite athletes, falling short of its initial 60-athlete goal for the 2026 competition, and 2,500 invite-only spectators.
It will take place in a custom-built competition complex on the Las Vegas Strip.
The Enhanced Games will be streamed live on services Roku, YouTube, Rumble, Twitch and Kick from Monday, May 25 at 11am AEST.
Which Australian athletes are involved?
The most high-profile Australian name attached to the project is swimmer James Magnussen, who was the very first athlete to join the Enhanced Games roster.
A three-time Olympic medallist, Magnussen became the poster boy and face of this experimental competition.
James Magnussen in the Enhanced Games documentary. Enhanced Games YouTube
However, multiple athletes have condemned the move, saying that stepping into this arena comes with severe consequences.
"The idea that young guys are going to be watching this and probably idolising them (Enhanced Games athletes) is really a scary thought," Charles said.
"When you're mixing a steroid and extreme physical sport, I'm scared to see what happens in the pool (and) if they're going to make it out of the pool."
Any athletes, coaches, and officials participating risk life-long bans from official, sanctioned sports competitions.
What sports are included?
Currently, the Enhanced Games have four sports on their roster - swimming, track, weightlifting and strongman.
There are eight events on offer for both male and female athletes at the Enhanced Games.
- 50m freestyle
- 100m freestyle
- 50m butterfly
- 100m butterfly
- 100m sprint
- 100/110m hurdles
- weightlifting - snatch, clean and jerk
There are currently no athletes for strongman in the 2026 edition of the games.
How much is the prize money?
The Enhanced Games is attempting to lure competitors with unprecedented financial incentives.
Each individual event carries a total prize purse of $704,720 AUD, with $352,360 awarded to the first-place winner.
Second place will be handed $176,000, third $105,700 and fourth $70,400.
With only four athletes competing in each event, just participating in the Enhanced Games hands individuals a major pay day.
American Olympic sprinter Fred Kerley will participate in the Enhanced Games. Andrzej Iwanczuk/NurPhoto via Getty Images
In addition to base prize pools, the organisation will offer lucrative appearance fees and record-breaking bonuses.
This includes a staggering $1.4 million AUD bonus for breaking world records in the 100m sprint and 50m freestyle swimming events, which the organisation recognises as the "definitive tests of raw human speed."
What drugs are athletes allowed to take for the Enhanced Games?
Enhanced Games officials have admitted that the competition will be an anything-goes steroid bonanza.
Performance-enhancing drugs such as steroids, testosterone and growth hormone that are typically legal to possess but banned in sports will be allowed for athletes to administer.
They'll need these PEDs prescribed by a licensed doctor and illicit drugs such as cocaine will strictly not be allowed.
The controversial but entrepreneurial sports event of an Australian businessman. Enhanced Games
Before their events, athletes will have to pass a medical screening before competing and are required to report any substances they are using.
However, the organisation said as long as athletes pass their medical screening, they don't plan to do any drug tests and do not have any black-and-white policy that would disqualify athletes who use illegally sourced or high-risk substances.
