Olympic Swimmers Face Backlash Over Planned Participation in Doping-Advocating ‘Enhanced Games‘
BERLIN – Former German Olympic swimmers are facing sharp criticism as details emerge regarding their planned participation in the “Enhanced Games,” a competition openly promoting the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The event, slated to launch in 2024, has drawn condemnation from both sporting and scientific communities, raising concerns about athlete safety and the integrity of competition.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has labeled the Enhanced Games “hazardous and irresponsible,” with WADA President witold Banka stating it threatens to “undermine decades of progress in athlete protection, public health and in the ethos of sport.”
Former sprint specialist Franziska Brandt has voiced strong concerns about the long-term health risks,questioning whether the potential benefits are worth the potential consequences. “is it worth the whole stuff-even if this is monitored by a doctor-nobody knows what happens in ten years.What will happen to you? Then you have five years more coal, but then you may be dead in ten years,” Brandt said. She added that she would have categorically rejected such a proposition during her active career, stating it would have been “a question of character.” Steffen, another former swimmer, echoed this sentiment, saying participation would “never have been anything for me.”
Brandt also suggested the athletes involved may be exploited for marketing purposes, noting the inherent public curiosity surrounding the event. “We are blatant at first, but people are still curious and want to know what happens, how does it work. This is how good marketing works,” she explained.
The Enhanced Games are led by Aron D’souza and German billionaire Christian Angermayer, co-founder of a biopharma company. Funding for the project comes from a network of high-profile investors, including libertarian US entrepreneur Peter Thiel, a supporter of Donald Trump’s presidential campaigns, and sources in Saudi Arabia. Trump himself announced his participation in an investment round in February.
