Enhanced Games: ‘Steroid Games’ force sport to confront tough questions
BBC Sport asked Enhanced’s Australian swimmer James Magnussen, whose noticeably bulked-up physique went viral after using PEDs last year, if he had concerns about the impact on his long-term health.
“If this had long-term implications for my health, there would definitely be some short- and medium-term indicators that say, ‘hey, this is not being tracked properly, you are seeing side effects.’ So far we haven’t seen those,” the three-time Olympic medalist said.
“As professional athletes, we inherently put our health at risk through the work we do. There is nothing healthy about training 30 hours a week at the peak of your physical ability.”
Some think the former world champion was right.
Byron Hyde, honorary research fellow at Bangor University says, external critics “overlook the fact that the Enhanced Games make clear what society has always quietly accepted: that most people are willing to watch athletes risk harm when the entertainment is good enough.”
“This is something that all sports organizations need to spend more time thinking about.
“If the potential price of boxing fun is brain trauma, why the outrage over the risks of pharmaceutical development? The Olympics already celebrate athletes who push their bodies to extremes.
“Research has documented serious physical and psychological harm across many sports. The enhanced Games pushes the risk threshold towards a spectrum that society already accepts.”
Such a claim has little effect on UK Sporting Director Kate Baker.
“We are determined to win well,” he tells BBC Sport. “We know we’ve gone through some things in the past that we’re not proud of, but we’ve come a long way from that.
“And so we find it quite difficult to even accept Advanced Games as a real thing. It’s certainly something that we would be completely opposed to.”
“If your potential is high in our system, you will be supported to reach your potential and you will do this in a healthy and non-harmful way.
“We have recently re-engaged with all our athletes to confirm that you would potentially be in breach of our eligibility policy if you choose to participate in these events. These athletes will not benefit from any UK Sport funding but will also have access to our coaching and medical support.”
