The first edition of the controversial Enhanced Games was held in Las Vegas, United States, with massive hype, bright lights, loud music, social media influencers, and prize money worth crores of rupees. The event promised to push the limits of the human body and create a new era in sports by openly allowing athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs.
However, despite all the attention and bold claims, the tournament failed to deliver the historic performances many had expected. During the five-hour competition, no major world record was officially broken, leaving fans and critics questioning the success of the event.
The Enhanced Games became the world’s first sports competition where athletes were openly permitted to use banned substances such as testosterone, EPO, and anabolic steroids. While organisers called it a revolutionary step for sports science, many international sports bodies and former athletes strongly criticised the idea.
Kristian Gkolomeev comes closest to a record
The biggest moment of the event came in the final competition when Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev completed the 50-meter freestyle race in 20.81 seconds.
His timing was just 0.07 seconds faster than the official world record. However, the performance was not recognised because he used a banned “skinsuit” and competed with the help of performance-enhancing drugs.
Even so, organisers celebrated the swim as the highlight of the tournament and proof that the concept could work in the future.
Athletes speak openly about doping
One of the most shocking aspects of the event was how openly doping was discussed. Large screens inside the stadium reportedly displayed the substances athletes were using during competition.
Despite that, some winners claimed they competed without taking banned substances. American sprinter Fred Kerley, who won the men’s 100-meter race, mocked his competitors after the event.
“The rest should work harder, maybe take a little more drugs,” Kerley said after his victory. Meanwhile, women’s 100-meter winner Tristan Evelyn gave a different message. “This proves that winning doesn’t come just from chemistry,” she said.
Big expectations, poor results
The organisers had expected several records to fall during the event, but most athletes failed to meet expectations.
Icelandic strongman Hafthor Bjornsson, famous for his role in Game of Thrones, failed to break his own 510 kg deadlift record.
Photo Credit: Enhanced Games/X
Several weightlifters also struggled badly despite multiple attempts. In one unusual moment, Canadian weightlifter Boady Santavy was even given an extra attempt after failing, leading many observers to compare the atmosphere to a school sports event rather than a professional competition.
Huge prize money attracts athletes
Although the performances disappointed many viewers, the prize money attracted several athletes. British swimmer Ben Proud reportedly earned around ₹3.5 crore after winning the 50-meter butterfly event and finishing second in another race “When I heard about these games, it felt like winning the lottery,” Proud said.
