Enhanced Games: Doping for Dollars?

The Enhanced Games, set to occur this Sunday in Las Vegas, is an event allowing athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs, a concept co-founded by Australian venture capitalist Aron D'Souza. The event aims to push human potential and challenge the hypocrisy of traditional sports organizations. Initially planned for a larger scale, the inaugural games will feature 42 athletes competing in eight events, including sprinter Fred Kerley and strongman Thor Bjornsson attempting to break world records for substantial cash bonuses.

Competitors have been training in Abu Dhabi, utilizing a regimen that includes various drugs like EPO, human growth hormone, and testosterone, all under purported medical supervision and with FDA-approved substances. This approach has already seen success, with swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev previously breaking a world record in a private event. The organizers emphasize that this is not 'doping' as it adheres to the competition's rules.

Financially, the Enhanced Games has significant backing from tech investors, including Peter Thiel, Christian Angermayer, and the Winklevoss twins. Recently, Enhanced Ltd merged with A Paradise Acquisition Corp, becoming Enhanced Group Inc. and listing on the New York Stock Exchange. The company's valuation briefly reached $1.2 billion. Beyond the sporting event, the core business model is a direct-to-consumer digital telehealth platform selling health and wellness products.

This 'live Enhanced' platform offers personalized treatments, fat-loss jabs, testosterone, and anti-aging products, with some requiring prescriptions. The company is actively promoting this side of the business, distinguishing it from the sports competition. Notably, every athlete, coach, and doctor involved in the Enhanced Games has reportedly been banned by their respective international federations.