Las Vegas hosted the Enhanced Games, a controversial event where athletes on banned substances competed for $250,000 per win and a $1 million world record bonus.
The evening featured swimming, weightlifting, and track. Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev won the 50m freestyle in 20.81 seconds, just 0.07 off the legal world record, claiming the $1 million bonus. However, online critics questioned the timing accuracy.
American sprinter Fred Kerley won the 100m in 9.97 seconds, a time that would have placed last in the Paris Olympics final. Barbadian Tristan Evelyn won the women’s 100m drug-free, stating, "Winning takes more than chemistry."
Organizers published a list of substances used by athletes: 91% used testosterone, 79% human growth hormone, 62% stimulants, and 41% EPO. All medications were FDA-approved. The event's parent company sells many of these substances.
Health experts expressed alarm. Professor Rob Aughey called it "a dangerous stunt," warning of heart, kidney, and liver damage. Dr. Catherine Norton highlighted the risks of combining high-dose substances. Associate Professor Kagan Ducker noted the ethical issue of low-income athletes being lured by prize money.
The International Olympic Committee and WADA declared the results illegal. World Aquatics called it a "circus built on short-cuts."