Sport Integrity Australia issues statement opposing upcoming Enhanced Games

Following on from this week’s launch of the Enhanced Games, Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) has reaffirmed its opposition to the event, issuing a health warning to Australian athletes considering taking part - condemning the concept of the Enhanced Games which it says is dangerous, unethical and damaging to sport.

With the first Enhanced Games - scheduled for late 2025/early 2026 - launched in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA this week, having included an announcement of health safety measures, SIA says that this does little to ease concerns of anti-doping agencies globally.

Advising that the agency is committed to protecting athlete health and well-being and the integrity of sport in Australia, SIA Chief Executive, Dr Sarah Benson stated “we work to ensure that sport is safe and fair for all. The Enhanced Games is promoting the complete opposite and poses a significant risk to athlete health and safety while undermining the fundamental values of sport in Australia.

“SIA condemns competitions that promote drug use and doping methods in sport, particularly those that may seek to exploit athletes for financial gain and influence.”

Anti-Doping programs have the aim of protecting the health of athletes and to provide the opportunity for athletes to pursue human excellence without the use of prohibited substances and prohibited methods.

Due to the lack of doping control, athletes participating in the Enhanced Games may use substances prohibited under the World Anti-Doping Code in an attempt to enhance performance without understanding the risks of such action.

SIA points out that some of these substances can have significant lifelong side effects, noting that many drugs on the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list are experimental and are not approved for therapeutic use in humans, with adverse effects largely unknown and unstudied.

For these reasons, use of such substances could pose a significant risk to athletes, especially with the purpose of enhancing athletic performance.

Dr Benson explained “of particular concern is the message this sends to young athletes participating at all levels of sport around the world - that it is ok to take performance enhancing drugs. Which it is not”.

Expressing deep concerns about the Enhanced Games, Sport Integrity Australia’s Athlete Advisory Group (AAG) added “our priority is to use our lived experiences as elite athletes to advocate for practices and policies that support clean, fair, safe, and ethical sport. For us, competitive sport is more than simply breaking records.

“The normalisation of performance-enhancing drugs promotes doping as entertainment, putting athletes at risk, and devalues the efforts of those who choose to compete clean. We are concerned about the negative role modelling impact on young athletes in particular, and the related health risks of using performance-enhancing substances or methods that may be inadvertently viewed as safe.

“For athletes considering participation, we strongly urge them to reconsider and fully understand the health risks not only to themselves, but also the influence their choices may have on young athletes who look up to them and emulate their choices. Informed decision-making is critical, especially when it comes to your health, your legacy, and the integrity of the sport.

“We call on Australian athletes to stand with us, to reject the idea of the ‘Enhanced Games’, and to speak up for clean, fair sport. Your voice matters.”

Enhanced Games
Founded by Australian businessman Aron D'Souza, the Enhanced Games are a proposed annual multi-sport event that will allow athletes to use performance-enhancing substances without being subject to drug tests.

Image: Former champion swimmner James Magnussen is the most high profile Australian athlete to have committed to competing in the Enhanced Games. Credit: James Magnussen/Facebook.