With the first ever Enhanced Games taking place this weekend (May 24), new details have emerged about how competitors will be paid, including what they can earn based on where they finish.
The event was initially floated in 2023 by founder Aron D’Souza, who argues athletes should have the freedom to decide what to do with their own bodies.
At its core, the concept is straightforward: the Enhanced Games is a multi-sport competition where participants can use performance-enhancing drugs and will not face drug testing.
The proposal has drawn significant backlash from across the sporting world, including criticism over whether it is fair for athletes using such substances to surpass ‘world records’.
Even with major prize money attracting elite competitors to a purpose-built 2,500-seat venue in Las Vegas on Sunday, World Athletics president Lord Coe has labelled participation ‘moronic’, warning that anyone who competes could be hit with a long ban.
Organizers have also said athletes will receive annual salaries plus an appearance fee for competing on the day, though they have not shared exact figures.
The payout structure for podium and near-podium finishes has been outlined too. Fourth place is set to take home $50,000, while third place increases to $75,000.
Second place is rewarded with a $125,000 payment, and the winner is due to collect a headline-grabbing $250,000.
Beyond standard placings, there is even more money available.
To further motivate athletes to push physical limits, the Games is offering a $1,000,000 bonus for breaking any ‘world records’ in sport.
Although the format may sound like an anything-goes competition, the event has still introduced rules aimed at safeguarding competitors.
Sports due to feature this weekend include track, swimming, weightlifting, and strongman events.
Competitors are not permitted to take illegal substances, and any performance-enhancing drugs used must have FDA approval.
D’Souza previously explained that the idea started in 2023, when he wanted elite, professional athletes to ‘be in charge of how they look after their bodies, what they eat, and what they put in their bodies’, according to Sky Sports.
From that viewpoint, he developed the Enhanced Games model, where athletes can use performance-enhancing substances without being subject to drug tests.
On its official website, the Enhanced Games says it ‘challenge traditional models of sport by embracing science, innovation, and measurable performance enhancement under regulated conditions’.
The project has received backing from a venture capital fund which includes Donald Trump Jr – the son of the US president – and billionaire entrepreneur Peter Thiel. After being introduced as a concept that promised athletes the chance to chase ‘world records’ for prize bonuses of up to $1 million, the first official event is now underway.
Athletes across events such as swimming, athletics and weightlifting are allowed to use performance-enhancing drugs that have been approved by the United States’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, some drugs remain prohibited, including heroin and cocaine.
The Enhanced Games has also said it will implement certain doping measures under medical supervision.