Enhanced Games: Why 'crippling injuries' are the least of it

Published 7 June 2026 · india

Doping in sports is nothing new. Athletes at the Enhanced Games will know the risks — severe injury, even paralysis. But bioethicists are also concerned

Doping in sports is nothing new. Athletes at the Enhanced Games will know the risks — severe injury, even paralysis. But bioethicists are also concerned we're opening the gates to altering our fundamental human biology. Athletes are limbering up to compete openly with performance-enhancing substances for the first time at the Enhanced Games in — where else? — Las Vegas! While supporters say the event signposts a new future for elite sport, the traditional sporting world has slammed it as a dangerous biological experiment. What does 'enhanced' mean in modern sports? Founded by Australian businessman Aron D'Souza, the competition allows athletes to perform without conventional anti-doping rules. Substances must be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and taken under medical supervision. But otherwise, it's up to the athletes. The idea of enhancement is nothing new, said Andy Miah, a bioethicist at the UK's University of Salford. "Back in the ancient Olympics, this included putting olive oil on the body to control body temperature," Miah told DW. "When modern sports began, it was common for the athletes to have a shot of alcohol, which was believed, mistakenly, to have an enhancing impact." Many of the substances associated with the most infamous form of enhancement — sports doping — are scientifically well understood. Michael Joyner, a physiologist at the Mayo Clinic in the US, told DW that modern enhancement strategies generally fall into three broad categories Anabolic steroids that increase muscle mass and recovery Blood doping and EPO that improve oxygen delivery Stimulants that reduce fatigue In addition, peptides may encourage the body to produce greater amounts of beneficial hormones such as testosterone and EPO.

Synthetic anabolic steroids have been around for nearly a century Image: blackday/Zoonar/picture alliance "There is clear evidence that steroids, blood doping/EPO, and amphetamines work," said Joyner. "Less so for the peptides and other substances." Enhancement science: Doping methods aren't new While the showcase of the Enhanced Games is new, much of the science is old, said Arthur Caplan, head of Medical Ethics division at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. "Despite all the attention, many of the things that people are using have been around for a long time: Steroids, growth hormones, even some of these drugs, like Ritalin, that help you focus your attention more, or pain medicine that would allow you to continue to try and compete or do something despite body signals of pain," said Caplan. These drugs pose a range of risks. So-called primary risks can lead to major health conditions. Growth hormones, for example, can increase the risk of cancer. Anabolic steroids, meanwhile, have long been associated with cardiovascular problems. But scientists and physicians also warn of secondary risks through sports doping. Artificially enhancing one part of the body can place stress on others, said Caplan. "If you use creatine [supplements] or other drugs that build muscle, that can be risky, because you can overburden the rest of your body by having huge muscles," said Caplan. "You don't get stronger tendons, you don't get stronger joints, and you can have all kinds of terrible, even crippling injuries." How safe are the Enhanced Games for athletes? The Enhanced Games could be very unsafe, with damage ranging from spinal injuries to paralysis.