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President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Witold Banka has told Sky Sports News that an athlete’s life is being put at risk should they compete at the Enhanced Games next year.
Banka believes more can and should be done to prevent the Enhanced Games from taking place in Las Vegas next year. He has called on greater pressure from the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and politicians to stop the event.
While all major global sporting events – like the FIFA World Cup and Olympics, as well as most Governments and most sporting leagues – are signatories to the WADA code, which prohibits the use of performance-enhancing drugs and substances, the Enhanced Games is a private event.
Set to take place in Las Vegas in May 2026, the normal rules of doping controls – in the main – do not apply.
The event – held in the USA – is subject to Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules. While substances like cocaine and heroin are banned, many substances that are outlawed by WADA will be allowed at the Enhanced Games.
Banka is very concerned at the use of steroids – which are banned at Olympic Games and FIFA World Cups – in competition, where the effects could have serious health impacts on athletes, including the potential for the loss of life.
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Geraint Hughes explains the controversial Enhanced Games and the reasons for why British Olympic medallist Ben Proud has joined
While WADA has no jurisdiction to prevent the Enhanced Games from taking place, their objection is loud.
The Enhanced Games has received considerable private investment, including from 1789 Capital – of which Donald Trump Jnr, son of US President Donald Trump, is a partner. Trump Jnr has said: “The Enhanced Games represent the future – real competition, real freedom and real records being smashed.”
WADA disagree.
Banka, speaking to Sky Sports in London, called the Enhanced Games “an irresponsible and dangerous event”.
“This is something which is completely against the values of team sport,” he said. “What is the price of it? We know from our scientists, doctors, experts, that taking some prohibited substances and steroids can be dangerous for your life.
“Ethically and morally it’s hard to talk about, it’s against everything we are doing. I hope the event will not happen.”
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Kelly Holmes strongly opposes the Enhanced Games and doesn’t think Olympic medallist Ben Proud should be joining the event
In response, the Enhanced Games said: “WADA President Witold Banka’s recent comments reflect a continued misunderstanding of the Enhanced Games’ focus on athlete safety.
“It is important to state emphatically that athletes competing in the Enhanced Games have full authority over the decision to compete as an enhanced athlete or not.
“Prior to competing, each athlete will undergo rigorous medical and health screenings, including pre-competition physicals and continuous monitoring during training by our independent medical commission, which comprises globally respected sports scientists and physicians.
“No athlete will be cleared to compete without passing these rigorous screenings and failure to meet them will result in immediate disqualification.
“Athletes scheduled to compete have publicly shared how comfortable they have been with the professionalism of the Enhanced Games medical team.
“The head of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) even recently challenged Mr Banka’s position by stating: “His indignation equals his misinformation or ignorance about how free democratic societies and markets work.”
The comments from Travis Tygart, the head of USADA, were in response to Banka urging USADA to prevent the staging of the Enhanced Games.
More pressure required
Despite being critical of Banka’s position, USADA had also called the Enhanced Games a ‘clown show’.
The WADA chief wants more pressure and again urged its US counterparts to intervene.
“(We) want colleagues from the USA to do more, to have a strong position on this. They can do more and try to convince the people behind it to think twice.”
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World and European champion swimmer Ben Proud says retiring from swimming to take part in the Enhanced Games is too good an opportunity to pass up
With regard to Trump Jnr’s investment, Banka added: “We haven’t met any prime minister or president who thinks the Enhanced Games is a good idea. We want a strong governmental position.”
FIFA, football’s governing body, is led by Gianni Infantino, who has built strong links with President Trump in recent years as the USA hosted the 2025 Club World Cup and is set to host the 2026 World Cup. FIFA is a signatory to WADA, so football is subject to the code and rules of global anti-doping.
Asked whether Infantino could lobby President Trump with regard to the Enhanced Games, Banka said: “Believe me, we are working with many stakeholders to have a good situation with the USA.”
While the Enhanced Games is small in comparison with any WADA-compliant sporting competition, they have currently signed only a handful of athletes – mainly from swimming – to compete at the Enhanced Games. Recently, the first British athlete confirmed their intention to compete at the Games.
Ben Proud was a silver medallist for Team GB at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Swimmer and 2024 Olympic medallist Ben Proud outlined his reasons to retire from swimming for Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Team GB and to compete at the Enhanced Games to Sky Sports in September, saying the financial reward on offer was too great to ignore and that it would take him winning 13 world medals to accrue the money he could earn in Las Vegas next year.
Proud also addressed issues around safety of the event, disputing that it will be a ‘doping free-for-all’, saying: “That’s not accurate. This is a completely different format. Everything available is already accessible to the public through prescriptions – everything is FDA approved.
“Some of the treatments I’ve read about are genuinely interesting. I’m keen to understand what’s out there, what the side effects might be and the what the health risks are.”
