Drugs such as steroids have long been banned from sporting events due to the unfair advantage they give as well as the potential danger for the user of those drugs. The people who run the Enhanced Games believe that technology and steroids has reached a point where they have a low enough risk to let people use and participate in sporting events. The Australian born president of the games has said that there are hundreds of athletes that want to compete, but so far there has been only a few such as James Magnusseson, an Australian three time Olympic medallist who won silver in the 100 meter freestyle in 2012. Magnusseson went on to say “If they put up a million dollars for the [50-metre] freestyle world record, I’ll come on board as their first athlete,” and added that “I’ll juice to the gills and I’ll break it within six months.” Former swimmer, Leisel Jones, a three-time Olympic gold medallist believes that this will keep the game fair, suggesting it would “keep clean sport, clean”.
The sport integrity Australia education director has gone on to say, even if drugs have been approved for legitimate medical treatments, using them outside those parameters can be “downright dangerous”. And many of the substances in use have not made it through clinical trials at all. The UK Anti-Doping company agreed, saying competition would be “unsafe, dangerous to athletes’ health and wellbeing [and would fly] in the face of fair play”. Drug Free Sport New Zealand said it had “no practical likelihood of implementation or success” and was dangerous and unethical. The Enhanced Games organizers share the belief that “sports can be safer without drug testing” and suggested that many athletes already use performance-enhancing drugs. They have said that athletes will get a base salary and compete for prize winnings “larger than any other comparable event in history”, although the amount has not and will not be revealed until later this year.
They have however responded to Magnusseson saying “We will write James Magnussen a one million dollar cheque for breaking the 50-metre freestyle world record at the Enhanced Games,” and they also added that the first enhanced athlete will to break Usain bolt’s record will receive at least $1 million if they do it publicly. The event will include several sports such as swimming, running, gymnastics, strength, combat and more. The organizers of this event believe that they are pushing back “against the anti-science dogma purported by the incumbent sporting leagues” after “years of oppression”. They also are trying to change wording to be more inclusive saying it should not be called cheating but instead a demonstration of science. They will also try to change the name of steroid abusers to enhanced athletes.
Lex cooper shared that steroids are still capable of causing heart palpitations, dizziness and a loss of vision, along with impacts on blood clotting, strokes, heart attacks, fertility and liver issues just to mention a few. Aron D’Souza responded by saying that he knows that every action has a risk and they will manage those risks with clinical supervision adding that testing is not about safety but fairness. Robert Wilks disagreed believing that this would only exclude or at least disadvantage those athletes who don’t want to take drugs. Wilks also added that the winners would be the most likely to be harmed, because of the doping dosage saying “ the most heavily doped athletes, the biggest risk-takers as far as their health goes, would be the winners.” This would make anyone that participates in the Enhanced games risk their health and the winners might risk their life trying to achieve an above naturally possible level.
