The Enhanced Games, a controversial competition that allows athletes to use banned substances, is offering a $10 million bonus to any man who breaks Usain Bolt's 100-meter world record at its 2027 event.
The prize targets Bolt's 9.58-second mark set in Berlin in 2009, considered one of the most untouchable records in track and field.
The announcement follows the inaugural Enhanced Games held Sunday at Resorts World Las Vegas. Athletes produced one swimming "world record" and 21 personal bests. Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev won the 50-meter freestyle with a time of 20.81 seconds, earning $1.5 million, described as the largest single payout in swimming history.
Those results won't enter official record books because they violate global anti-doping rules. The Enhanced Games permits substances banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and allows polyurethane "super-suits" outlawed in 2010.
CEO Maximilian Martin said in a shareholder letter that the debut event showed the impact of "medically supervised enhancement protocols." The company reported over $32 million in contracted sponsorship value and is planning smaller events before 2027, with endurance sports as a possible expansion area.