“The beginning of a new era in elite sport; a fearless stage for athletes to push boundaries, break records and write the future of sport.”
This is how the organizer describes the Enhanced Games in Las Vegas in May. The competition has been popularly called the “doping Olympics”, as illegal substances are permitted.
Olympic third place takes part
American Olympic third-place finisher in the 100 meters, Fred Kerley - who is suspended from athletics due to failures in his whereabouts reporting - is participating. Eleven other athletes have signed up for the Enhanced Games.
One of Sweden's biggest sports stars, swimmer Sarah Sjöström, has criticized the arrangement - and is now supported by two athletes who support clean sport.
"It is very immoral, not ethically good," says Andreas Almgren, who had a brilliant season with Swedish and European records and won World Championship bronze in the 10,000 meters.
The 30-year-old argues that the "doping Olympics" could ruin it for everyone else, those who compete in regular and clean competitions.
"Now there is the opportunity to take a chance, dope and compete in the regular sports, and if you get banned you go to the Enhanced Games instead. It can actually affect the real sport, so it is very bad."
"It feels really strange that people do this."
Do you think there will be more Enhanced Games?
"It's hard to see how it's going to work out. I don't think this makes the competition interesting."
“Totally absurd”
Even 33-year-old Daniel Ståhl, who won his third World Cup gold in Tokyo, says that competitions with free doping are "deplorable" and "scandalous".
"It should be pure sport, that's what I believe in. The Olympic sport, like. Why do you have to do that shit?"
"It's completely absurd. It doesn't exist in my world at all."
If Fred Kerley breaks Usain Bolt's 100-meter world record, what would that mean?
"As long as that person has run a world record, tested themselves and been clean - then that's fantastic. But that you have to cheat to do that, I think that's deplorable."
Anders Wallin/TT
Facts: Enhanced Games
TT
When: May 24, 2026.
Where: Las Vegas, USA.
Founder: Australian businessman Aron D'Souza.
Sports: Swimming; 50 and 100 meter freestyle, 50 and 100 meter butterfly. Athletics; 100 meter and 100/110 meter hurdles. Weightlifting; Clean and jerk.
Prize money: The equivalent of 4.6 million kronor in each event, half of which goes to the winner. Any world records in the 100 meters and 50 meters freestyle give a bonus of just over 9 million.
Athletes who have qualified: Mouhamadou Fall, France, Fred Kerley, USA (both track and field), Shane Ryan, Ireland, Benjamin Proud, Great Britain, Marius Kusch, Germany, Megan Romano, USA, Kristian Gkolomeev, Greece, James Magnussen, Australia, Andrij Govorov, Ukraine, Josif Miladinov, Bulgaria (all swimming), Boady Santavy, Canada, Wesley Kitts, USA (both weightlifting).
