WADA Says It Will Urge Authorities to Shut Down 'Enhanced Games' with Athletes on PEDs

Next year's Enhanced Games event is facing staunch opposition from the global entity dedicated to preventing performance-enhancing drug use in sports.

According to the Associated Press, World Anti-Doping Agency president Witold Banka announced Wednesday that the company will push to shut down the Olympics-style event that encourages the use of PEDs.

"We will urge the U.S. authorities to find legal ways to block this initiative," Banka said following a meeting of Olympic sports bodies.

The Enhanced Games are scheduled to be held in May 2026 in Las Vegas, and the Associated Press noted that organizers of the event "promise $1 million bonuses to beat world record times by athletes who will be encouraged to use performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision." Banka vehemently advised against allowing this type of event to take place.

"This initiative seeks to normalize the use of potentially dangerous drugs," Banka told leaders of Summer Olympics sports at the annual meeting of their umbrella group, known as ASOIF. "For the sake of athlete health and the purity of sport, of course it must be stopped."

Banka also suggested that the Enhanced Games could lead to legal ramifications in the state of Nevada or federally.

"This is something that has to be explored from the legal perspective," Banka told the Associated Press. "I cannot imagine, for instance, doctors giving the drugs to the athletes. It is completely against the values of their work."

With WADA based in Montreal, Banka noted that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency should play "a strong role" in preventing the Enhanced Games from happening. USADA's chief executive, Travis Tygart, previously described the event as a "dangerous clown show that puts profit over principle." Swimming's governing body, World Aquatics, already announced it will ban athletes, coaches and officials who participate in the Enhanced Games.

The event's proximity to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics creates even more controversy, as Banka called it "very embarrassing" for the United States.

"I think the main responsibility is on USADA's shoulders, who need to take the lead because it is in their country," Banka said.