The Enhanced Games fit right in with the rest of 2026’s longevity vibes

This Sunday, a group of 42 athletes will gather in Las Vegas to compete in a somewhat unusual sporting competition. Participants in the inaugural Enhanced Games are being encouraged to take performance-enhancing drugs, with the goal of pushing the boundaries of human performance. The games' organizers have said that competitors will only be taking substances that have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, and that they are all being medically monitored and supervised.

The event is generating a mix of curiosity, excitement, and condemnation from various quarters. To some, it feels like a reflection of where we are today – an era of peptide-crazed looksmaxxing in which consumers are being encouraged to get thinner than ever, optimize for longevity, and have their 'best baby.' It's 2026, and if you're not enhancing, what are you even doing? The games will feature competitions in four categories: swimming, track and field, weightlifting, and strongman.

Many of the competitors already hold national and world records, and some are Olympic medalists. They've been paid a salary and will compete for prizes from a $25 million pot. The money has been a major draw for at least some of the athletes.

Another draw is the opportunity to openly experiment with drugs that might boost their performance. Within most sporting communities, there are limits. The World Anti-Doping Agency maintains a lengthy list of 'non-approved substances' that are banned in international sporting events.

Some of these substances have been FDA approved to treat health disorders, and that means they can be used by participants in the Enhanced Games, according to the organization's rules. 'Technological doping,' or using improved equipment to gain advantage, has also been supported by the games' organizers. Last year, participating swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev was reported to have broken a record in a 50-meter freestyle time trial while wearing a polyurethane 'super' swimsuit.

Plenty of concerns have been raised about these games. Some argue that they are unsafe and promote risky drug use. Others see them as a 'clown show,' and a slap in the face to 'clean' athletes who train hard without the use of prohibited drugs.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe has said that anyone who takes part is 'moronic,' and World Aquatics, which oversees international competitions in water sports, has banned Enhanced Games participants from its events and activities. The games – and the participating athletes – will still get a huge amount of attention. As a result, so will performance-enhancing drugs.

Enhanced, the company behind the games, also runs an online store, where you can buy a $52 T-shirt emblazoned with the message 'I am Enhanced.' There is also a range of prescription drugs on offer, including peptides 'to support recovery, vitality, and longevity.' It all fits very well with the zeitgeist, in which the search for anti-aging drugs is getting more attention – and funding – than ever.