A new sports competition inspired by the Olympics and devoid of drug testing has enlisted world champion swimmer Megan Romano as its inaugural female and American athlete on Friday. The Enhanced Games is set to premiere in Las Vegas next May, showcasing swimming, track, and weightlifting events where athletes are permitted to utilize performance-enhancing substances.
Romano views participation in the tournament as an avenue to challenge the limits of human performance within a transparent and scientifically-supported setting, emphasizing the importance of equitable treatment and compensation for female athletes. She envisions this as the future direction of sports.
The Enhanced Games will present a $500,000 prize for each competition, with additional $1 million bonuses offered to individuals breaking world records in the 100-meter sprint (track) and 50m freestyle (swimming). However, these achievements will not be recognized officially without validation from international federations which mandate doping tests for record-breaking performances.
Despite criticism from the International Olympic Committee denouncing the Enhanced Games as detrimental to fair play in sports, the initiative has gained traction and secured significant funding in the “double-digit millions,” as reported by founder Aron D’Souza. Notably, four male swimmers, including Australian Olympic medalist James Magnussen, have already committed to participating in the games.
Romano, distinguished for her swimming prowess during her collegiate years at Georgia, notably led the U.S. 4×100 freestyle relay team to a gold medal victory at the 2013 world championships.