Anabolicly destroys the athletes’ body, mind and reputation. However, a group of investors, including Peter Till and Donald Trump Junior, sees a business opportunity. Recently announced the first organization of the Enhanced games – A form of “doping Olympic Games” in which athletes are allowed, and even encouraged, to use banned substances (PEDs). These matches will take place next May in Las Vegas.

This is a distorted idea, but this has not already prevented four Olympians from signing up. Other athletes may be followed by millions of dollars in money prizes and participation fees.

The real Olympic Games have nothing to do with it, but they bear some responsibility. Their business model, in which athletes are paid little, if paid, creates the ground for something as perverted as an event that encourages doping.

Think of the dilemma facing Christian Golomeev, a renowned 31 -year -old swimmer who has participated in the last four summer Olympics for Greece. As he has admitted, his course was not financially profitable. In 2016, for example, the Greek government provided some top Olympic benefits under $ 1,000 a month. The medals are of course generous bonuses, but Golomeev – like most Olympians – has not won one.

This is where Enhanced Games come in. Last year, in order to attract interest, the organizers offered $ 1 million for anyone who breaks the world record of 100 meters free to men. Golomeev was involved, using anabolic and, in fact, “broke” – a term that should be used with reservation when involved steroids – the record in February. At the end of May, at the presentation of Enhanced Games, he told reporters without any shame: “A successful year in Enhanced Games for me means more money than I could get in 10 careers.”

This is a sad comment that describes the current state of Olympic sports such as swimming. It is not, after all, that the International Olympic Committee (ILO) is suffering financially. Foreperous TV rights contracts and sponsorships allowed the organization to earn $ 7.6 billion in the period 2021–2024. What is this money? The ILO says that 90% are distributed to Olympic movement organizations, from the National Olympic Committees to the organizing cities.

Unfortunately, most of these money does not reach athletes. On the contrary, it is spent on things such as training facilities, stages of organizing cities and executives’ salaries. According to a 2020 report by Global Athlete, a athlete’s well -being, only 4.1% of the ILO and EEA money reached the competitive athletes in the period 2013–2016.

The situation does not seem to have improved in the last decade. Last year, a report submitted to Congress, USA, said that about 26% of American athletes participating in the Olympic and Paralympic program earn less than $ 15,000 a year. Athletes in developing countries often make it even more difficult. In Kenya, for example, some who were preparing for the 2024 Olympics received about $ 7.50 a day. Bonuses for medals victory can meet some of the financial needs. In Kenya, a 2024 gold medal was worth about $ 23,000; in the US it earned $ 37,500.

This is a satisfactory amount, but when the athlete distributes it in four (or more) years and calculates intensive, often full -time, training, then becomes less impressive. US Olympians, for example, say they spend an average of $ 21,700 a year only on matches and subscriptions.

This structure of remuneration and expenses is not accidental nor is it ignorant. The modern Olympic Games started with a European aristocrat, who waited for athletes to compete for the joy of sports and not for money. This mentality remains unchanged, even if the races have evolved into an advertising platform for many billions of dollars for the world’s largest companies.

Last year, for example, the International Olympic Committee reacted angrily when World Athletics, the World Athletics Organization, announced a plan to give $ 50,000 to the golden Olympians of its competitions. From the ILO perspective, fees merely expand the gap between more and less privileged countries and athletes. It is a reality reality that shows how cut off – or perhaps indifferent – are the Olympics against the daily reality of athletes who bring them revenue.

Enhanced games are designed to exploit this ignorance. “One of our main principles is that we want to make our athletes as rich as possible,” explained the president of the event, Aron Desouza, in an interview with Men’s Health in May.

In Las Vegas there will be many opportunities for this. Enhanced games are planning to host matches in three categories: swimming, track and lifting. Each race will be accompanied by a $ 500,000 cash prize, with the winner earning $ 250,000. In addition, all participants will receive an appearance fee and will be eligible for bonus if they break a world record (as Golumev did).

These are significant sums of money, though probably not enough to attract the top Olympians – those who have hopes for Olympic gold. They would risk their reputation and lose possible sponsorships.

However, enhanced games do not need this level athletes. After all, “reinforcement” is about getting someone who can’t win a race or break down a record and turning him into an athlete he can. There are many who will never reach the podium, but will be suitable for this role.

For anyone interested in the integrity of sport, this is a tragic development. And it won’t be the last. As long as the Olympic Games and other top sporting events remain clinging to obsolete pay perceptions, there will be room for exploitation. Over time, every such example will further erode the public’s confidence in competition law.