The founder of The Enhanced Games believes that after the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, the inaugural edition of the event will take place in an American city.
About 6,000 kilometers (3,728 miles) away from Washington D.C., an individual in London closely monitored last November’s U.S. presidential election. Donald Trump won against Kamala Harris. This paved the way for Aron D'Souza's vision of an "Olympics on drugs."
“We understood that should the Biden/Harris campaign emerge victorious, America wouldn’t be hospitable for us. However, if the Trump campaign prevailed, we were aware that it would mark our highly successful debut as hosts,” explained D’Souza, an Australian entrepreneur and the creator of Enhanced Games, during his interview with Pawonation.com.
The Improved Competitions, which promote the use of prohibited substances among participants, have found it difficult to launch successfully. However, everything appears to be changing following Trump’s victory. The most recent backer for these events is Donald Trump Jr., indicating that the competitions might now come into fruition.
'Technology, growth and innovation'
"This isn’t a laughing matter since the Trump family has put money into our venture,” D’Souza stated. “I frequently converse with Donald Trump’s top advisers. They appreciate what we’re accomplishing. They support technology, expansion, and ingenuity.”
D'Souza mentions that the inaugural Enhanced Games will take place in a U.S. city, with more information about the specifics set to be revealed in a matter of weeks.
So far, just one athlete has officially enrolled, which is Australian Olympic medalist James Magnussen. However, according to D’Souza, interest has surged following the Paris Olympics.
We currently have world record holders among us, individuals who participated in the Paris Olympics and secured medals.
D'Souza thinks that conventional sporting bodies, such as the International Olympic Committee, are concerned.
They are in crisis mode... because they understand that we have their direct backing.
WADA denounces 'drugs-fueled Olympics'
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) have both denounced the Enhanced Games. To them, these games contradict what sports fundamentally stand for.
WADA stated in an interview with Pawonation.com that the Enhanced Games represent a hazardous and uncontrolled idea. They believe the appeal and widespread appeal of the sport stem from the principle of clean and equitable play.
However, those supporting the Enhanced Games assert that athletes are already clandestinely using performance-enhancing drugs. The organization’s founder references this observation. WADA A commissioned study during the 2011 IAAF World Championships indicated that roughly 44% of athletes may have been involved in doping.
In their statement, WADA mentioned that D'Souza had "selectively chosen" the information.
The study he refers to is almost 15 years old, had a limited focus, and employed contentious methodologies, which were subsequently highlighted in academic publications.
The Chinese swimmer doping scandal several months prior to the Tokyo Olympics and Russia's government-backed doping controversy have expressed worries regarding the widespread nature of the issue.
Health and safety risks
Athletes have always sought to push the boundaries of performance, but how the Enhanced Games wants to do that is controversial.
Their aim is to eliminate the complete social rejection associated with doping so as to "unleash human capabilities." The organizers have guaranteed to keep track of every athlete’s well-being. They assert that medications would be provided under medical professionals' oversight, along with regular testing for the athletes.
D'Souza stated that "People ought to have the freedom to assume risks for themselves provided they do so with full awareness and agreement."
For certain individuals, utilizing anabolic steroids might entail consequences.
"Regrettably, this entire approach remains experimental. They can only determine the boundaries once they have surpassed them," stated Dr. Chris Raynor, a specialist in sports medicine at Cornwall Community Hospital in Canada, during an interview with Pawonation.com.
These medications often come with various side effects. They may cause irregular heartbeats, a heart attack, or even sudden cardiac death.
The human body constantly seeks equilibrium. This implies that when you use performance-enhancing drugs to improve your capabilities—like increasing muscle mass or boosting strength and speed—you initially experience a significant reaction. However, over time, the body adjusts itself accordingly.
Raynor explained, “To achieve the same outcomes as when you initially began using it, you eventually need larger amounts over time. If your priority is performance, these additional factors aren’t a concern for you. However, as you escalate usage, this will inevitably alter the equilibrium of those other bodily systems.”
Could athletes jeopardize their standing?
Olympic athletes aren't compensated for their participation. Instead, the IOC distributes most of its revenue to national Olympic committees and sports federations.
In the previous year, World Athletics made history as the first international federation to provide prize money for winning gold medals at the Olympic Games. Their intention is to further expand this initiative by including awards for silver and bronze medal winners during the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
However, can they rival the Enhanced Games, which offers a base salary, prize money, and almost €1 million ($1.1m) for setting a world record?
Money talks
D'Souza mentioned that the possible monetary benefits have persuaded several well-known athletes, not just James Magnussen, to join in.
"I was talking to one of the best swimmers in the world, in the top 10. His career has gone on for more than a decade now. He's earned $200,000 dollars. So he's averaged $20,000 a year" D'Souza said. "I said, 'Hey, you want to come to the Enhanced Games? This will be your annual salary, and he was like, 'Done.'"
Maybe the identity of that "star swimmer" will come to light in a matter of weeks. Discovering the extent of the influence the Enhanced Games might wield over traditional sports – assuming they actually materialize – is likely to require far more time.
Edited by: Chuck Penfold
Author: Alima Hotakie
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