- Billionaire Peter Thiel supports the Enhanced Games, an Olympics-style event allowing performance-enhancing drugs to push human limits.
- Founded by Aron D’Souza, the event aims to embrace scientific innovation and inclusivity, welcoming all athletes to participate.
- Despite controversy and concerns over health risks, organizers plan thorough medical screening protocols and advocate for destigmatizing performance enhancements in sports.
Billionaire Peter Thiel has thrown his support behind a groundbreaking initiative dubbed the Enhanced Games, which adopts an Olympics-style format but with a controversial twist: athletes are permitted to utilize performance-enhancing substances to “push the perceived limit of what’s possible” for human capabilities.
The brainchild of Oxford graduate Aron D’Souza, known for his involvement in Thiel’s legal battle against Gawker Media, the Enhanced Games has secured backing from influential figures including former Chief Technology Officer of Coinbase, Balaji Srinivasan, and biotech investor Christian Angermayer.
Unlike traditional sporting events, the Enhanced Games advocate for embracing advancements in science and technology to propel athletic achievement, irrespective of whether participants are “natural, adaptive, or enhanced.” Registration is set to open later this year for adults of all backgrounds, with an emphasis on fostering innovation and inclusivity.
Despite attracting interest from athletes, concerns persist regarding the potential health risks associated with doping. UK Anti-Doping voiced apprehension, highlighting the importance of maintaining integrity and adherence to regulations in competitive sports.
To address these concerns, organizers pledge to implement a comprehensive pre-competition medical screening protocol to monitor athletes’ well-being. They argue that performance enhancements, when used responsibly, can enhance training outcomes and should be destigmatized within the sporting community.
However, skepticism remains among experts such as Travis Tygart of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, who dismisses the Enhanced Games as a “clown show” lacking legitimacy.
Despite the controversy, organizers remain committed to unveiling further details about the competition in mid-2024, including its format and location. The event aims to leverage existing infrastructure and could potentially utilize top university facilities for its various sporting disciplines, which span athletics, aquatics, combat, gymnastics, and strength competitions.
