Wada President Witold Banka is calling on USADA to do more to prevent the Enhanced Games from happening. Described by Banka as "very dangerous" and an "irresponsible event", the inaugural games are scheduled for Las Vegas in May 2026, featuring track and field, short-course swimming, and weightlifting events.
Banka expressed his concerns about the ethics of allowing competitors to take performance-enhancing substances under medical supervision. He emphasized that this is completely against everything Wada stands for and is "completely dangerous."
Banka's comments come as tensions between Wada and USADA have been high in recent times, particularly over a doping scandal involving Chinese swimmers who were cleared to compete at the Tokyo Olympics despite testing positive for a banned substance months earlier.
USADA has previously voiced its opposition to the Enhanced Games, describing it as a "dangerous clown show, not real sport." Banka urged USADA to do more to prevent the event from taking place, citing their responsibility in lobbying for the cancellation of the games.
The concept behind the Enhanced Games was launched in 2023, with some doping measures permitted under medical supervision. Only substances approved by the FDA can be taken, which is different from Wada's list of allowed substances for elite athletes. Proponents claim it will be the "Olympics of the future," allowing athletes to take drugs in pursuit of world records. However, critics argue that this undermines fair play and potentially harms athlete health.
The controversy surrounding the Enhanced Games has attracted high-profile athletes, including British swimmer Ben Proud and American sprinter Fred Kerley.
Banka expressed his concerns about the ethics of allowing competitors to take performance-enhancing substances under medical supervision. He emphasized that this is completely against everything Wada stands for and is "completely dangerous."
Banka's comments come as tensions between Wada and USADA have been high in recent times, particularly over a doping scandal involving Chinese swimmers who were cleared to compete at the Tokyo Olympics despite testing positive for a banned substance months earlier.
USADA has previously voiced its opposition to the Enhanced Games, describing it as a "dangerous clown show, not real sport." Banka urged USADA to do more to prevent the event from taking place, citing their responsibility in lobbying for the cancellation of the games.
The concept behind the Enhanced Games was launched in 2023, with some doping measures permitted under medical supervision. Only substances approved by the FDA can be taken, which is different from Wada's list of allowed substances for elite athletes. Proponents claim it will be the "Olympics of the future," allowing athletes to take drugs in pursuit of world records. However, critics argue that this undermines fair play and potentially harms athlete health.
The controversy surrounding the Enhanced Games has attracted high-profile athletes, including British swimmer Ben Proud and American sprinter Fred Kerley.
! I mean, who thought it was a good idea to have athletes takin' performance-enhancin' substances under medical supervision? It sounds like somethin' straight outta a Bond movie 
. And now Wada's president is callin' for the cancellation of these Enhanced Games altogether? I'm with 'im on this one, fam 
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I mean, sure, it might be tempting to have a little edge, but at what cost? Your health, your integrity... it just don't seem worth it to me 
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. I'm glad USADA is speakin' out against this nonsense, but we need more people like 'em to raise their voices 
. We can't just sit back and watch as these athletes put themselves at risk for the sake of some fancy-schmancy competition 
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u know what i'm thinkin? wada president is totaly right to speak out against these "enhanced games" 
newsflash: it aint! its still doping, no matter what they call it 
and USADA gotta do somethin about it, i dont care if its a bunch of rich ppl makin money off this event 
these games sound like a circus to me, not somethin to be taken seriously 
. And what's next? Taking steroids to win a marathon? 
No thanks! USADA's got the right idea, saying it's all about fair play and athlete health. I get why Wada wants more control over this whole thing, but they gotta stand firm on their values 
. Can't let some "future of sports" nonsense come at the expense of what's truly important - being a real competitor 
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- "the Olympics of the future" is just code for "we're gonna make a ton of money off of you, athletes". Ben Proud and Fred Kerley might be high-profile athletes, but what about all the other ones who'll be pressured to take meds if they want to compete?
... athlete health is way more important than some fancy record-breaking numbers. And USADA should definitely be pushing for this thing to get canceled 
This is what happened with doping scandals in the past and look where it got us... 
The athletes who are speaking out against this, like Ben Proud, are actually saying something important. We need to stand up for fair play over 'progress' in sports. 
... it's like, if we're gonna allow guys to take meds that can actually harm them just to break a world record, that's not even close to being cool 
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. cant they just keep the focus on competing clean and fair? 
and really push for the cancellation of these games 
. ben proud and fred kerley might think its a good idea, but banka's concerns are valid 
It's all about progress and innovation, right?
. You're right, Wada's stance on doping is pretty clear-cut, and this does go against their guidelines. Maybe USADA should listen to Banka and try to find a middle ground? 