Roids were all the rage at the Enhanced Games

In Las Vegas, under the blazing sun, an Olympic-length pool is the venue for an unprecedented sporting event—the Enhanced Games. Here, athletes like Cody Miller compete under a unique set of conditions where performance-enhancing drugs are not only permitted, but actively encouraged. As Miller stands on the starting block of lane one, arms raised in triumph to the thumping rhythm of MC Hammer's classic hit, a pivotal moment unfolds. He has just completed the men’s 50m breaststroke, clocking a new personal best of 26.55 seconds and earning a prize of $250,000.

The source of Miller’s victory invites scrutiny: Is it his state-of-the-art swimsuit, banned in traditional competitions after 2008 for giving an unfair advantage, or his tailored regimen of performance-enhancing drugs? Regardless, Miller expresses no regret about his decision to engage in doping—a move that is indeed backed by his medical and coaching teams. "I just shaved seven-tenths off my best at 34," he shares, indicating the substantial impact of his "enhancements."

Having stepped away from professional swimming in December 2024, Miller's participation in the Enhanced Games represents an opportunity to reclaim his competitive edge while demonstrating that he can still achieve record-breaking times with the aid of performance-enhancing substances.

The "Steroid Olympics" Concept

The label "Steroid Olympics," though candid, has become synonymous with the Enhanced Games since tech visionary Aaron D'Souza introduced the concept in 2023. Bolstered by investors including Peter Thiel and Donald Trump Jr., the initiative offers a unique premise: a sporting event where athletes can push their physical limits with the blessing of medical supervision approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

This inaugural gathering featured 42 competitors from swimming, weightlifting, and track and field, all vying for a chance to earn significant monetary rewards by shattering world records. Leading up to the event, athletes were isolated in a facility in Abu Dhabi, participating in extensive medical evaluations and preparations. Those opting for performance enhancements underwent medical clearance and collaborated with healthcare professionals to design protocols tailored to their specific sports and aspirations.

Maximilian Martin, CEO of Enhanced, refers to the initiative as "scientific evolution." He contrasts traditional medicine, which seeks to restore individuals to their baseline health, with the potential of performance enhancers that might propel athletes beyond conventional thresholds.

The Biohacking Movement

Martin describes the utilization of substances for personal enhancement as "enhancing," but the broader cultural movement is widely recognized as biohacking. This transformative approach leverages science and technology towards optimizing personal health, involving self-experimentation through biological assessments and wearable devices. It extends beyond elite athletics, encompassing individuals from various fields, including tech entrepreneurs and wellness advocates promoting the latest advancements in supplements.

Despite the allure of biohacking, skepticism remains prevalent among researchers, clean athletes, and various sporting organizations. The World Anti-Doping Agency, US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), and the International Olympic Committee have condemned the Enhanced Games as a dangerous precedent. Travis Tygart, CEO of USADA, has denounced the initiative as a "dangerous clown show that prioritizes profit over ethical standards," raising alarms about the potential long-term health implications for athletes.

The Enhanced Games form only one aspect of Enhanced's multifaceted business, which also includes a telehealth service offering subscriptions for supplements, legal peptides, and hormone replacement therapies. Critics accuse Enhanced of engaging in "science-washing" to boost sales of its health services.

Athletes and Their Motivations

Many athletes expressed their motivations candidly, with Ben Proud, a silver medalist from the Paris Olympics, stating, "It's about the money." His decision to participate in the Enhanced Games generated considerable discourse within the swimming community. Proud emphasized that the financial incentives associated with world records provide a compelling rationale—noting, "What does it change from my past career? It changes nothing."

This perspective resonates with other Enhanced athletes, many of whom have retired from competitive sports and face financial challenges. They view the Enhanced Games as a potential revival of their athletic careers and an opportunity to support their families. Participating athletes receive a base salary alongside appearance fees for promotional events, with the structure ensuring financial rewards even for athletes who finish last—ranging from $20,000 to $50,000. In contrast, a US athlete winning a gold medal at the Olympics earns $37,500 without any additional bonuses for breaking records.

The Event and Its Controversies

Despite its $50 million budget, the event was marred by various technical difficulties. Audio issues plagued pregame activities, and the live feed experienced interruptions. Furthermore, oppressive heat caused many of the 2,500 seats in the venue to remain unoccupied during the initial stages of the Games. As an invite-only event, attendees included the athletes' families, a select group of media representatives, and social media influencers.

The opening ceremony featured a creative rendition of "O Fortuna," set against a backdrop of dancers clad in black leotards, while each athlete was introduced with the flair reminiscent of a WWE entrance. Notably, Bryan Johnson, a well-known figure in wellness, made headlines by appearing with sunglasses and a specially designed UV umbrella for sun protection.

As competition unfolded, the day took an unusual turn. Weightlifting events faced challenges due to high temperatures, impacting several athletes’ performances. Swimmer James Magnussen, who has notably increased his physique, finished last in all his heats despite donning a custom gold suit. Though several personal bests were recorded, attempts to break world records largely fell short. Among the 42 athletes, four remained unenhanced, with clean competitors Hunter Armstrong, Tristan Evelyn, and Fred Kerley winning their respective races effortlessly.

The tension peaked during the final event: the men's 50m freestyle. Kristian Gkolomeev narrowly broke the previous world record by 0.07 seconds, sparking an eruption of celebration among the crowd—full of relief that a significant feat had finally been achieved.

The Medical Perspective

Dr. Guido Pieles, a sports cardiologist chairing Enhanced's independent medical commission, clarifies the organization's nuanced definition of "optimization." While many associate steroids with enhancing physical appearance, Pieles asserts that the focus should be on finding an "optimization" of athletes' health, not merely extreme physical conditioning.

Recognized within elite sports circles for his work with organizations such as Manchester United FC and FIFA, Pieles advocates for overcoming stigma surrounding research into enhancing substances to glean insights about their impact on athletic performance and implications for preventive healthcare.

Pieles identifies the scarcity of research on performance enhancements as a pressing issue, as it can lead athletes to self-administer unregulated substances. A critical goal of this undertaking is to enhance the understanding of safe usage protocols, and data gleaned from the event will contribute to a five-year clinical study approved by an institutional review board.

While Enhanced refrains from disclosing specific drug protocols for individual athletes, citing concerns about encouraging unsafe practices, an aggregated breakdown reveals that:

• 91 percent of athletes utilized testosterone or its esters,
• 79 percent employed human growth hormone (hGH),
• 62 percent used stimulants (e.g., Adderall),
• 50 percent resorted to metabolic modulators, mainly ancillary compounds,
• 41 percent relied on erythropoietin (EPO),
• 29 percent engaged with anabolic steroid agents (e.g., Deca durabolin),
• 5 percent adopted hormonal support therapies (e.g., hCG).

Scientific Scrutiny

Notably, experts contend that Enhanced's claims regarding science, safety, and future medical practices lack robustness when examined more closely.

"For a genuine clinical trial, participants in both the control and experimental groups should follow identical protocols," clarifies Martin Chandler, a research fellow at the University of Birmingham. He argues that the variability in individual athlete protocols at Enhanced undermines the validity of the research format, rendering it more akin to a collection of case studies than a proper analysis.

Ian Boardley, a professor at the University of Birmingham, echoes these concerns, suggesting that valid findings cannot be generalized due to the unique conditions each athlete experiences. Both Boardley and Chandler raise ethical alarms regarding the long-term health impacts on participating athletes, questioning what consequences may arise post-study.

Athletes' Perspective on Doping

Notably, not all Enhanced athletes believe that doping is essential for success. The four participants who chose to compete without enhancements are included in the study as a control group; Hunter Armstrong, one of these unenhanced competitors, expressed a desire to maintain his eligibility for the 2028 Olympics. "It's nothing against the protocol," he shares. "I've always taken pride in advancing on my natural, god-given talent."

Conversely, enhanced athletes unanimously report experiencing no adverse health effects associated with their drug regimens. Most assert that doping has primarily facilitated recovery, enabling them to endure more rigorous training regimens. Moreover, they all commend the treatment they have received throughout the process.

"I was one of the most elite athletes in the world, but I had no idea where my health was actually at," remarks Magnussen, reflecting on the comprehensive approach taken in this experimental setting, which he believes contributes to a more profound understanding of their health than traditional Olympic training offers.

Questions About Legitimacy

Whether Gkolomeev’s world record will be recognized remains a contested point; indeed, his achievement will not hold official status in the eyes of recognized sporting authorities. This scenario highlights the discrepancies between Enhanced's proclaimed legitimacy and subsequent public perception. Persistent speculation surfaced regarding the accuracy of the official timing, particularly in light of repeated glitches during the event.

The Future of Enhanced

Following the close of the inaugural Enhanced Games, the pivotal question remains: Is this a singular spectacle or the genesis of a sustained biohacking movement? Martin anticipates the initiative will not yield immediate profit in its first year. With only one world record broken, and unenhanced athletes outperforming those utilizing enhancements, he emphasizes that the success lies in twelve athletes achieving personal bests.

Many competitors express intentions to return; Enhanced has signaled plans to host annual events and subsequently expand into other disciplines, such as cycling. Looking forward, Pieles hopes to integrate genetic testing in future studies to better evaluate athletes’ predispositions to adverse effects.

As the conversation around biohacking continues, it is evident that for zealots committed to self-improvement, the journey toward personal peak performance is far from over.