Doping Elimination: Enhanced Games Offering a Safe Alternative or Health Risk?

The 2024 Olympics are quickly approaching and while athletes prepare for one of the most esteemed global sporting events, an entrepreneur envisions a different interpretation of the Games' former motto "faster, higher, stronger."

Introducing The Enhanced Games, an initiative presenting itself as an "alternative" to what it labels as the "corrupt Olympic Games."

Athletes participating in the Enhanced Games will have the freedom to utilize performance-enhancing drugs without being subjected to testing or the requirement to disclose the substances they have used for competition.

This stands in stark contrast to the strict doping protocols of the Olympics. The responsibility for managing Paris 2024's anti-doping program falls upon the International Testing Agency (ITA). Six years ago, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the governing body of the Olympics, entrusted the ITA with the entirety of its clean sport program. Despite this, the Olympic Games have a history plagued by numerous doping and bribery scandals.

When approached for comment on the Enhanced Games and allegations of corruption, the IOC told CNN Sport that "the idea does not merit any comment."

Danger to health, to sport

CNN Sport conducted interviews with several doping experts for this article, who voiced their apprehension regarding the Enhanced Games, citing it as an exceedingly perilous proposition. Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, the whistleblower behind Russia's state-run doping scheme - an extensive operation spanning years that provided unfair advantages to over 1,000 athletes from 2011 to 2015 - expressed his belief that the Enhanced Games pose a significant threat to both athletes' well-being and the integrity of the sport.

Rodchenkov is the protagonist of the Oscar-winning Netflix documentary Icarus.

Netflix

Whether the Enhanced Games will ever take place remains an open question, but the very idea is drawing considerable blowback from leading anti-doping officials and sporting organizations.

Businessman Aron DSouza, founder of "The Journal Jurisprudence," a quarterly publication on legal philosophy, is the mastermind behind the concept of The Enhanced Games. According to his website, DSouza is described as an enthusiastic athlete. In a recent interview with CNN Sport, DSouza revealed that he has entered into agreements with renowned venture capital firms for the Enhanced Games and is currently waiting for the completion of legal paperwork. He also mentioned that a funding announcement is scheduled to be made in early December.

Term sheets, while not legally enforceable, serve as a significant indication of intention from both parties, outlining the fundamental principles of an agreement.

DSouza asserts that a competition driven by science is the logical progression of sports and argues that the lack of drug testing will create a fair and equitable playing field.

According to data from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), less than 2% of athletes are found to engage in doping. However, Raphael Faiss, Research Manager at the Centre of Research and Expertise in Anti-Doping Sciences at the University of Lausanne, suggests that the actual number of athletes using performance-enhancing drugs is likely much higher. Based on his research, Faiss estimates that the figure could be between 15 to 18%.

To conduct their study, Faiss and his team compared blood results of athletes obtained from WADA-accredited labs to values from healthy adults, as well as doped and undoped athletes. The researchers observed that the closer the blood values of the athletes were to those of individuals who had been administered erythropoietin (EPO, a substance used in blood doping), the more likely it was that the athletes were actually doping.

Aron D'Souza is the founder of the Enhanced Games.

Courtesy Enhanced Games

According to Faiss, this analysis does not serve as concrete evidence of doping, but rather offers a strong method of scrutinizing the data. It enables scientists to approximate the prevalence of doping and identify athletes who are most likely to engage in doping practices.

WADA stated to CNN Sport that determining the prevalence of doping is a top priority and has been actively addressed since 2017. They have established a prevalence working group with the aim of developing strategies, reliable methods, and tools to assess doping prevalence in sports adequately. WADA informed CNN Sport that the group has made various recommendations and provided guidance, although the final ones are pending.

WADA expressed concerns regarding the Faiss study, citing the difficulty in accurately determining the prevalence of doping. They emphasized the inconsistency in results from different reports. Additionally, the anti-doping organization stated that it is not possible to obtain a conclusive figure for doping prevalence in all sports or even in a single discipline using just one method.

Editors note: You can find WADAs full statement at the bottom of this article. 

A dangerous clown show

According to Travis Tygart, CEO of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the concept of an Enhanced Games is "absurd and probably illegal in several US states." He describes it as "a risky spectacle, devoid of true sportsmanship." Furthermore, substances like anabolic steroids, categorized as a Schedule III drug by the US Drug Enforcement Administration, aid athletes in building muscle mass and recuperating faster from intense training sessions.

DSouza informed CNN Sport that drug testing will not be conducted at the games, indicating that anabolic steroids and illegal substances like cocaine will not be prohibited. Additionally, he mentioned that there are no plans to supervise the substances used by athletes.

Anabolic steroids can only be legally prescribed by a licensed physician to treat specific conditions like testosterone deficiency. However, if used without a prescription from a licensed physician in the US, individuals may face severe consequences. A first conviction could lead to a one-year prison sentence and a significant fine of $1,000.

However, this is not the only legal risk that the Enhanced Games could encounter, as mentioned by Jim Walden, an American lawyer representing Russian whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov.

Walden criticized the Enhanced Games website, stating that it seems like they are openly disregarding the law. He observed that they try to appear legitimate by emphasizing concepts like body autonomy and proudly identifying as enhanced athletes.

US anti-doping chief Travis Tygart is one of many critics to the Enhanced Games.

Alex Wong/Getty Images

The government website states that the Sports and Gaming Initiative was created to safeguard athletes and sporting institutions in the United States from criminal threats and influences. This initiative collaborates with sports leagues, governing bodies, international law enforcement, and independent watchdog groups to address crimes like fraud, doping, and match-fixing. Its primary focus is on combating activities that undermine the integrity of sports and competition, diminishing public trust in these esteemed institutions.

According to Rodchenkov's written comments to CNN, the utilization of performance-enhancing drugs is deemed unacceptable in contemporary sports. He further emphasizes that the endorsement and advertisement of prohibited substances contradict both the regulations and ethical principles of sports.

The Enhanced Games could have dangerous consequences for young athletes who may mistakenly believe in their benefits. Rodchenkov, the main figure in the award-winning Netflix documentary Icarus, currently in FBI protection, believes that the organizers of these games could potentially face investigation under the Rodchenkov Act.

The Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, named after the whistleblower, enables the United States to apply criminal penalties to individuals engaged in doping activities during international events.

Additionally, Rodchenkov stated that athletes associated with enhanced athletes, as defined by WADA, would face potential charges under Article 2.10 of the World Anti-Doping Code, which prohibits athletes or any other individuals from forming such affiliations or contacts.

Tygart, the head of USADA, stated to CNN Sport that no one desires for our children to admire uncontrolled drug use in sports, even if certain individuals believe otherwise. DSouza emphasizes that his intention behind establishing the Enhanced Games is not monetary. He claims that if he had wanted to increase his earnings, he would have remained a subdued and calm venture capitalist.

DSouza stated that both consumers and athletes desire the Enhanced Games, as nowadays people are no longer captivated by historical content at the cinemas. Instead, they are enthralled by superheroes and futuristic technology, and this is precisely what the Enhanced Games aim to deliver.

Canadian athlete Ben Johnson commemorates his victorious achievement in the men's 100m final at the Seoul Olympic Stadium in Seoul, South Korea on 24 September 1988. However, Johnson's triumph was tarnished when he was subsequently stripped of his gold medal due to his involvement in the illicit utilization of performance enhancing drugs.

Mike Powell/Getty Images

The dirtiest Olympics in history

Pierre de Coubertin, the visionary behind the modern Olympics, believed that sport provided a chance for individuals to enhance themselves. However, throughout Olympic history, there have been cases where athletes have taken this concept of self-improvement to extreme lengths. One notable instance was the London 2012 Olympics, which was famously labeled by Rodchenkov as the "dirtiest Olympics in history."

The ITA's re-analysis program for the London Games resulted in the discovery of 73 anti-doping rule violations. As a consequence, 31 medals were revoked, and 46 Olympic medals were subsequently redistributed amongst athletics, weightlifting, wrestling, and canoeing. Doping has consistently plagued the Olympics, and one of the most notorious and contentious incidents in sports history occurred during the 100-meter final at the 1988 Games.

Six out of the eight finalists from that memorable September day in Seoul 35 years ago, including the victorious Ben Johnson, either underwent failed drug tests themselves or were linked to drug usage throughout their professional careers.

Johnson leads the men's 100m final at the 1988 Olympics.

Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

According to the testers, global antidoping efforts persist, despite some athletes persisting in cheating. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has recently published out-of-competition (OOC) testing data that emphasizes the positive outcomes of measures implemented to ensure the integrity of "elite podiums and finals," as stated by the anti-doping organization.

Data from last year's World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, emphasizes the prioritization of resources and testing on athletes with a higher likelihood of winning medals and reaching the finals.

In Eugene, only 39% of athletes underwent three or more Out-of-Competition (OOC) tests within the 10 months preceding the event. However, an impressive 81% of top-eight finishers had undergone three or more OOC tests.

Yet the cat and mouse game between testers and athletes using banned substances continues.

Athletes' blood values are routinely monitored, making it increasingly challenging for them to use high doses of drugs like EPO. However, they may resort to micro dosing. According to Faiss, if athletes take EPO late at night and ensure proper hydration, it will not be detectable in their system the next morning. Nevertheless, athletes suspected of blood doping could undergo testing during nighttime hours.

When it comes to new substances like Roxadustat, which led to a four-year ban for tennis champion Simona Halep, athletes are inclined to use substances with a brief half-life in their bodies that imitate the oxygen-enhancing effects of EPO.

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Simona Halep banned 4 years for anti-doping rule violations

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Roxadustat has an elimination half-life of 10-16 hours, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Athletes are striving to discover substances with a significantly brief half-life time window, ensuring that if they undergo testing at an unfavorable moment, they will evade detection," Faiss revealed.

Challenge for sporting competition

Michele Verroken, the founding director of Sporting Integrity consultancy group, argues for the implementation of a more credible and timely antidoping system to maintain athletes' trust and loyalty. Verroken also raises concerns about the lack of deterrent if athletes can evade detection for up to 10 years or even indefinitely. Starting from 2015, the World Anti-Doping Code imposes a 10-year statute of limitations on samples.

Verroken informed CNN Sport that the Enhanced Games presents a captivating challenge for sporting competition.

As expected, numerous sports organizations have expressed their disapproval of the event. The Australian Olympic Committee labeled it as "dangerous and irresponsible," emphasizing that "the world deserves higher standards."

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) expresses grave concern regarding the notion of an Enhanced Games, stating that the use of performance enhancing drugs has no place in sport, including the Enhanced Games. Hamish Coffey, the Director of Operations at UKAD, emphasized the alarming precedent set by the event and raised apprehensions about the impact it may have on the values instilled in future athletes.

Very accomplished athletes

In a recent interview with CNN Sport, DSouza revealed that a total of 368 athletes expressed their interest in the Enhanced Games, with even more reaching out through various social media platforms.

The Chief Athletes Officer of the organization, Brett Fraser, who is a former Olympian representing the Cayman Islands in three Olympic Games, stated to CNN Sport that "highly accomplished athletes" who have reached the level of Olympic finalists have approached him "to gain a better understanding of the preparations for the inaugural Games and explore opportunities for participation."

Fraser further mentioned that the organizers of the Enhanced Games already have an Olympic medallist on board for their athlete commission, but did not disclose the individual's identity.

He also mentioned receiving "a great deal of positive feedback and enthusiasm from younger generations." However, none of the athletes seem ready to address the public at this point.

For individuals interested in participating, the Enhanced Games will be an annual competition featuring five categories: track and field, swimming, weightlifting, gymnastics, and martial arts.

Migrants board a bus that will take them away from Paris as police stand guard

Claudia Colliva/CNN

France moves homeless people out of Paris as city prepares for next summers Olympics

Hosting an Olympic Games comes with a hefty price tag, as countries constantly aim to surpass previous spectacles by exceeding their budgets. Tokyo 2021 made history by featuring the largest Olympic sports program ever, comprising 33 sports competitions across 42 venues, culminating in a total of 339 medal events.

The Covid-affected Games were ultimately executed at a total cost of $13 billion, nearly twice the initially predicted amount of $7.3 billion. However, in line with the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) principle of "lower-impact Games," a staggering 95% of the venues at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics will be repurposed pre-existing facilities.

DSouza emphasized that the Enhanced Games will prioritize a smaller number of sports, repurpose existing infrastructure, and secure funding from the private sector. This approach aims to deliver a games that are both impactful and cost-efficient, allowing for the distribution of profits to the participating athletes.

DSouza mentioned that the Enhanced Games aims to offer a prize pool worth seven figures to any athlete who manages to surpass Usain Bolt's 9.58 seconds record in the 100-meter race. He further shared conversations he had with elite sprinters, who asserted their willingness to compete at the next Olympics if there was a million-dollar incentive to break the world record.

The "enhanced athletes programme" will include both universal basic income and mental health support for athletes. CNN Sport asked DSouza about the potential responsibility if an athlete were to face fatal consequences at the Enhanced Games, to which he replied, "Our athletes at the games will be the most monitored athletes in history."

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Heptathlete Jess Ennis-Hill on doping and clean sports

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DSouza also mentioned that athletes will be required to sign waivers in order to participate.

Currently, there are no confirmed venues to host the event, and DSouza concedes that its execution will rely on funding and media partnerships.

"We are currently engaged in commercial negotiations with venues and media partners," stated DSouza. According to DSouza, the inaugural Enhanced Games will take place at a university campus or a comparable facility in the southern region of the United States. Furthermore, numerous trademarks have been filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Undermine the very purpose of sport

Elite performance coach Trevor Painter, who has extensive experience working with Olympic and international sprinters and middle-distance runners, firmly stated that he would never provide coaching to athletes who use performance-enhancing drugs. Painter explained that such a decision opposes his fundamental principles as a coach, particularly due to his involvement with athletes who have suffered losses at the hands of cheaters. As a result, he expressed his reluctance to participate in events like the Enhanced Games during an interview with CNN Sport.

If the Enhanced Games proceed as scheduled in December 2024, DSouza asserts that they will unleash humanity's potential.

However, John William Devine, a Senior Lecturer in Ethics, Sport and Exercise Sciences at Swansea University in Wales, argues that the Enhanced Games will exacerbate the existing unfairness in sporting competition and, furthermore, "detract from the essential essence of the respective sport."

Devine stated to CNN Sport that the use of performance-enhancing drugs does not result in improved athletic performance, but rather obscures it.

He further highlighted that despite the resemblance of the Enhanced Games to the Olympics, the nature of the events will vary, prompting the inquiry: "To what degree does drug-induced performance truly represent the athletes' sporting prowess?"

WADA's Response:

WADA prioritizes the determination of prevalence levels and is actively addressing this issue. In 2017, WADA established a Working Group on Doping Prevalence to tackle this challenge. Measuring doping prevalence is a complex and challenging task, as evidenced by the significant disparities found in numerous prevalence studies. To address this, the working group published guidelines on enhancing the quality of prevalence measurement. Currently, WADA is in the process of developing a tool that Anti-Doping Organizations can utilize to assess the efficacy of their programs.

WADA acknowledges the [Faiss] study and notes that Professor Martial Saugy, one of the contributors, is a member of the Working Group. This particular study focuses on a specific aspect within a narrow scope. It investigates only two events from a single sport, both held 10 and 12 years ago, employing solely the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) as a measurement method. There appears to be a lack of comparable data from more recent World Championships in the same sport. Therefore, it is essential to analyze this study in conjunction with other research and not view it in isolation.

Furthermore, this study emphasizes the challenges associated with measuring prevalence. It is the third published paper attempting to measure prevalence at the 2011 Athletics World Championships, and each report presents significantly different findings.

There is no definitive method to accurately determine the prevalence of doping in all sports or even in a single discipline. Results will always have limitations and uncertainties, as they are based on various methods such as self-report questionnaires, analytical methods, and other approaches to provide a more comprehensive estimate.

Comparing the 15-18% prevalence found in the Faiss study with the global anti-doping systems testing figures is not a valid comparison. The quoted 2% includes data from all sports and countries, making it an unreliable guide for estimating prevalence. Additionally, a single rate for all global sports is not beneficial since different sports and countries have varying circumstances. It would likely overstate the prevalence in some areas and underestimate it in others. Conversely, the Faiss figures only pertain to one sport and were collected over a decade ago. Hence, it is not fair or useful to compare these two figures.

Editor's P/S

As a netizen, I have mixed feelings about the Enhanced Games. On the one hand, I understand the desire to create a level playing field for athletes and to eliminate the use of performance-enhancing drugs. On the other hand, I am concerned about the potential health risks associated with the use of these drugs and the impact on the integrity of sports.

I believe that the Enhanced Games could potentially offer a safe alternative to the current system, but only if they are properly regulated and monitored. Athletes should be required to undergo rigorous medical testing to ensure that they are not putting their health at risk. Additionally, there should be a clear and transparent process for approving the use of performance-enhancing drugs, and athletes should be subject to random testing to ensure that they are not using banned substances.

Overall, I think that the Enhanced Games have the potential to be a positive force in sports, but only if they are implemented in a responsible and ethical manner.