The “steroid olympics” were a circus—and a window into our culture

The inaugural Enhanced Games, a sporting competition encouraging the use of performance-enhancing drugs, took place on Sunday, May 24, in Las Vegas. The event, held in a $50 million arena constructed in a casino parking lot, featured athletes using substances such as testosterone, methenolone, nandrolone, human growth hormone, EPO, and meldonium. Founders of the Enhanced Games stated their aim is to challenge traditional sporting norms and promote longer, healthier lives. However, critics have labeled the event an embarrassment that glorifies dangerous substance use and endangers participants. The venue included a 100-meter track, an Olympic-length swimming pool, and a weightlifting platform, with the Trump Hotel visible in the background. Advertisements for performance products sold by the event's parent company, Enhanced, were displayed between competitions, including injectable peptides and supplement powders. Australian swimmer James Magnussen was the first athlete to join Enhanced but finished last in his two events at the Las Vegas competition.