The Sporting Event Where Doping Was the Star
The Enhanced Games, dubbed the 'doping Olympics,' showcased athletes competing under the influence of various FDA-approved substances. This controversial event, held in Las Vegas, offered a prize of up to $1 million for breaking world records. Athletes participated in a clinical trial while using a combination of 37 different substances, raising questions about the future of sports and doping regulations.
- ▪The Enhanced Games featured athletes competing in running, weightlifting, and swimming.
- ▪Participants were allowed to take any FDA-approved substance, with the potential to win significant cash prizes.
- ▪The event was designed for social media, with competitions lasting less than a minute.
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CultureThe Sporting Event Where Doping Was the StarAthletes at the Enhanced Games were bigger—but not exactly better.By Ellen CushingPhotographs by Maggie ShannonMaggie Shannon for The AtlanticMay 25, 2026, 4:35 PM ET ShareSave In person, they did not seem quite real. Gathered on a blue carpet under bright lights, inside a $50 million Las Vegas venue that had been built just for them, the athletes of the Enhanced Games—colloquially known as the “doping Olympics”—looked like action figures.
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