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May 10, 2026
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The Questions I'd Ask the Enhanced Games

AI Summary
The author was denied media credentials for the Enhanced Games, an event allowing athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs. The author outlines questions they would have asked the athletes and organizers, including concerns about athlete safety, the legitimacy of the event, and the potential long-term effects of drug use.

The Rejected Media Credential

The plan to fly to Las Vegas to cover what the Enhanced Games claims is the “next frontier of human performance” ended with a short email sent at 7.02pm on Friday. “After careful consideration, we are unable to approve your media credential request for this year’s event,” it said. “Due to the high volume of applications and limited media capacity, we could not accommodate all requests … thank you again for your interest and understanding.”

The Concerns About the Enhanced Games

Admittedly, the rejection didn’t come entirely out of the blue. Unlike most sports organisations, the Enhanced Games had a pre-screening process which led to a nice PR man calling me a few days beforehand. His opening gambit? To point out the Guardian’s negativity towards the event.

The Questions I'd Ask

Why, he then asked, weren’t we criticising others in the longevity space? Er, because they aren’t running an event dubbed the Steroid Olympics?

  • What about the basics? Are the tracks legal, the timing devices reputable, the officials pulled off the streets?
  • You claim that the athletes are leaving “the old system behind for a new era of honesty and science”. But do you really believe that steroids, human growth hormone and EPO are safe?
  • Can athletes sue the Enhanced Games?
  • Many of you have stressed the benefits of taking banned drugs. But have you experienced any side-effects?
  • What is your response to former athletes who say you are a dangerous influence on kids?

The Future of the Enhanced Games

Personally, I believe such talk is nonsense. But I don’t dismiss the Enhanced Games out of hand. I spoke to one person in the health-tech space, who has dealt with its founders, and he pointed out they are smart people and billionaires who tend to get what they want.