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Sports
May 21, 2026
Analyzed by Llama- 4 Scout 17B 16E Instruct

Enhanced Games Explained: The Controversial New Sports Event

AI Summary
The Enhanced Games is a new sports event that allows athletes to take performance-enhancing drugs, offering huge prizes for participating and breaking world records. The event features Olympic swimmers, track and field athletes, and weightlifters competing in various events.

The Concept of Enhanced Games

The Enhanced Games is a controversial new sports event that allows athletes to take performance-enhancing drugs that are outlawed in official competitions. The event offers huge prizes to participate and 'break' world records.

Event Details

The event will take place on Sunday, May 24, at a specially built 2,500-seater arena at Resorts World in Las Vegas. As of now, 42 athletes will compete in the following events:
  • Swimming: 50m and 100m freestyle, 50m and 100m butterfly.
  • Track & field: 100m.
  • Weightlifting: snatch, clean & jerk.
  • Strongman: deadlift.
There will be a post-event show from the Killers.

Star Power Involved

More than a dozen Olympic swimmers have signed up, including Britain's Ben Proud, Ukraine's Andriy Govorov, and Australian former 100m freestyle world champion James Magnussen. In track and field, the biggest name is the 2022 world 100m champion, Fred Kerley of the United States.

Banned Substances Allowed

The Enhanced Games allows athletes to take drugs approved by America's Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including:
  • Testosterone and anabolics such as methenolone and nandrolone.
  • Hormones and growth factors, such as human growth hormone and EPO.
  • Metabolic modulators, such as meldonium, and stimulants, including Adderall.

Justification and Criticism

The Enhanced Games claims it is being more transparent by allowing athletes to take drugs administered by qualified professionals. However, Wada dismisses these claims, calling the event 'dangerous and irresponsible' and pointing out that the FDA-approved drugs are all on its banned list and may not be safe.

Payouts and Records

Athletes will receive yearly salaries, often three to five times what they would get from their national federations, as well as an appearance fee. For all events, there is a $500,000 prize pool, with the winner receiving $250,000 of that. If a winner breaks a world record, they receive an additional $250k, except in the two glamour events (the 50m freestyle and 100m sprint) where the prize is an additional $1m.

Broadcast Information

The Enhanced Games will be live streamed on Sunday evening local time through Roku across the US, and internationally on its YouTube channel.