Enhanced Games Debut in Las Vegas With Doping Allowed and Large Prizes

The inaugural Enhanced Games were held Sunday at an open-air 2,200-seat stadium in Las Vegas. Organizers permitted and encouraged the use of performance-enhancing drugs while offering first-place prizes of $250,000 and $1 million for a world record.

Thirty-eight of the 42 athletes elected to use drugs during a two-month clinical trial conducted by the games' medical board. The most common substances were testosterone or testosterone esters (91 percent), human growth hormone (79 percent), stimulants such as Adderall (62 percent) and EPO (41 percent).

Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev set the only world record of the night in the men's 50-meter freestyle, finishing in 20.81 seconds while wearing a banned supersuit. The mark was seven-hundredths of a second faster than the previous clean record and earned him $1.5 million in four hours.

Non-enhanced athletes won both 100-meter track races. U.S. sprinter Tristan Evelyn took the women's event and $250,000; Fred Kerley won the men's race.

Athletes described the decision to begin doping as emotionally difficult. British swimmer Ben Proud said the first injection marked a clear break from his previous career. Several reported physical changes, including increased muscle mass that required suit adjustments and minor side effects such as acne.

“The risks were explained.”

An independent medical commission chaired by German cardiologist Dr. Guido Pieles limited substances to those approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Athletes will now enter a five-year observation period.

Last-place finishers received $20,000. U.S. swimmer Hunter Armstrong, competing without drugs, collected $375,000 across two events. Enhanced Games chief executive Max Martin said the event had "dominated the internet" despite falling short of multiple record attempts.

World Aquatics and World Athletics have stated they will review participation on a case-by-case basis. Enhanced previously sued World Aquatics for $800 million over eligibility rules; the suit was dismissed last fall. Organizers plan to sell toned-down versions of the athletes' supplement and hormone protocols to the public through an online platform launched after the company went public on May 8.