UKAD statement on The Enhanced Games
Dated Friday 23 May 2025
Please see below an update to UKAD’s original response to the Enhanced Games, a concept endorsing a sports event without drugs testing and with athletes' use of performance enhancing drugs, following the announcement that it will be hosted in Las Vegas from 21-24 May 2026.
Jane Rumble, UKAD’s Chief Executive, said:
“It is with deep concern for athletes, and all those who love sport, that the event now seems more likely to go ahead. It is a dangerous undertaking that diminishes, rather than ‘enhances’, all those involved.
“Recent respected research flags concerns about a lack of credible evidence presented by the organisers that they can reduce the considerable physiological and psychological risks and harms this event may cause.
“We at UKAD believe that this event will damage all those involved: risking health (short and long-term), reputations, and sporting integrity. Sport has a duty of care. Anti-doping, under the World Anti-Doping Code, exists to protect fair and clean sport and to champion the rights of clean athletes.
“The message it sends to young people about performance enhancing drugs is of particular concern. Let me be clear, taking Image and Performance Enhancing Drugs (IPEDs) is unsafe, they are dangerous to your health and wellbeing, and undermine fair competition.
“UKAD’s own recent survey shows there is very little appetite from the general UK public for such a charade. Two in three adults said they would not let their children watch the event, while more than half the teenagers surveyed said they didn’t want to watch it.
“UKAD also notes that, beyond the possible commission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations by athletes and athlete support personnel taking part in this event, there may also be serious legal implications for those involved. Many Prohibited Substances are classified as controlled drugs in the UK and it is a criminal offence to import, supply or facilitate the supply of these drugs. Those who do so may be held criminally liable, including the participating athletes, athlete support personnel, the venue hosts, the organisers themselves and any other party involved in the facilitation of these offences.
“In summary, it's a reckless concept, dressed up as progress but in reality it will be at the expense of the very many who love sport and value fair play.”
Original statement dated: Wednesday 5 July 2023
In response to media coverage of The Enhanced Games, a concept endorsing a major sports event without drugs testing and athletes' use of performance enhancing drugs, below is a statement from UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) outlining our position.
Jane Rumble, UKAD’s Chief Executive said:
“UKAD is extremely concerned by the concept of an Enhanced Games. The premise of sports competitions that allow performance enhancing drugs is unsafe, dangerous to athletes’ health and wellbeing, and flies in the face of fair play.
"Clean athletes have campaigned for years for their right to compete on a level-playing field, to be able to represent their country and communities with honour and integrity, and to play with truth and honesty.
"Sport has a duty to care. Anti-doping, under the World Anti-Doping Code, exists today to protect fair and clean sport and to champion the rights of clean athletes.
"We believe competing is about respect, hard work and determination, not a dangerous game of endorsing drug use to enhance performance. We are committed to working with athletes to champion their rights, their health and their wellbeing.
"UKAD’s mission is to protect sport from doping cheats. There is no place in sport for performance enhancing drugs, nor the Enhanced Games.”