WADA Athlete Council strongly opposes the Enhanced Games

As the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Athlete Council (AC), we represent, support, and promote the voices of athletes on anti-doping matters. The AC is also the avenue for athletes, chosen by athletes, to assume important seats within WADA’s governance bodies. In this capacity, we wish to address a matter that we believe threatens clean sport and athletes from around the world, which are the Enhanced Games, which were announced yesterday, to be held in Las Vegas in the U.S. state of Nevada in May 2026. 

In early 2024, media reports first emerged regarding the staging of the Enhanced Games, a multi-sport event that would encourage the use of performance-enhancing substances and methods by athletes. At the time, the AC chose not to make a public statement, mindful of the risk that engaging too early could inadvertently amplify attention toward a project that lacked legitimacy and posed a threat to clean sport.  

Now, we would like to put on the record that the AC is firmly opposed to the Enhanced Games and any event that promotes the use of performance-enhancing substances and methods. These Games represent a dangerous concept that ignores decades of medical evidence and the lived experiences of athletes harmed by doping. Such an event puts athlete safety at serious risk and fundamentally undermines the core values of sport. To encourage such an event is both irresponsible and unacceptable. Consequently, the AC will be working with WADA to ensure athletes are informed of the risks associated with this event – risks not only affecting athletes’ health and well-being but also athletes’ careers in sports. In the meantime, we encourage you, and any athlete with questions, to reach out to us at athlete@wada-ama.org. The AC stands ready to provide guidance and support to ensure athletes can make informed decisions, based on facts, and in alignment with the principles of clean sport. 

As advocates of clean sport, we strongly discourage any athlete from participating in these Games. Instead, we urge all athletes who believe in fair competition and athlete well-being to make their voices heard. Now more than ever, we must stand united in our commitment to protect athletes and to ensure that sport remains a space of integrity, safety, and respect.