- More Sports. Sherpa sets new Everest record for consecutive summits in shortest time
- More Sports. A new study reveals that playing sports may not be as good as you think
American swimming does not want to be dragged down by the Enhanced Games, an event open to athletes who dope. Once it was announced that the first edition of this competition will be held in Las Vegas in May 2026, USA Swimming sent a letter to its athletes and coaches warning them not to participate even if they did so without resorting to doping practices.
USA Swimming warns that while participation in the Enhanced Games does not currently constitute a violation of the rules in force, it could jeopardize participation in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games
"Even if you do not personally participate in doping activities, affiliation with Enhanced Games could significantly affect your participation in future competitions due to the rules and regulations of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Therefore, we consider it important to remind you of the relevant rules and risks related to doping activities within the Olympic Movement," reads the email sent by USA Swimming, published by Swimswam.
During the last week, several of the US swimming team reported that they had been ed to see if they would be interested in participating in the Enhanced Games
We urge you to consider the serious impact that an anti-doping rule violation could have on your future career and your reputation within the sport and the Olympic Movement
"Any involvement could lead to anti-doping rule violations, as there are rules prohibiting association with certain persons serving a period of suspension for a doping offence. If you are considering participating in the Enhanced Games in any capacity, whether as a coach, athlete, official or staff, or even in a government or business position, we urge you to carefully consider the serious impact that an anti-doping violation could have on your livelihood, your future career and your reputation within the sport and the Olympic Movement," says USA Swimming.
"If a representative from Enhanced Games s you, please feel free to report it to Michelle Steinfeld of USA Swimming. Also, if you have any questions or concerns, or would like independent and confidential advice, you can the US Team Athlete Advocate. Your well-being and integrity as an athlete is our top priority," USA Swimming's communication also points out
The Enhanced Games will focus on three sports: athletics, swimming and weightlifting. In the first two cases, there will be speed events (100m and 100/110m hurdles on the track and 50m and 100m freestyle and butterfly in the water), while weightlifting will face the world records in clean and jerk and snatch.
The winner will take home $250,000 and there will be a million dollars for the athlete who breaks a world record in the 100 meters or the 50m freestyle in swimming. During the presentation of the Enhanced Games, it was announced that Kristian Gkolomeev, a Greek swimmer who with the polyurethane swimsuit swam the pool in 20.89, two hundredths less than the legal record of the Brazilian Cesar Cielo, also achieved with that swimsuit that was later banned
The World Anti-Doping Agency has already condemned the idea of creating these Enhanced Games: "The health and well-being of athletes is WADA's number one priority. It is clear that this event would jeopardize them by promoting the use of potentially harmful substances and methods. As we have seen throughout history, performance-enhancing drugs have had a terrible physical and mental impact on many athletes. Some have died."