Donald Trump Jr. has thrown his financial weight behind the Enhanced Games, a new sporting event that challenges traditional sports norms by allowing athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs.
The Enhanced Games, which some have dubbed the “Steroid Olympics,” claim to push the boundaries of human performance, though they have raised significant ethical and safety concerns in the process.
What Are the Enhanced Games?
The Enhanced Games are an upcoming international sports competition that rejects anti-doping regulations in favor of what organizers are calling a more “scientific” approach to performance enhancement.
Founded by Australian entrepreneur Aron D’Souza, the event promotes itself as an alternative to the Olympic Games, arguing that current anti-doping policies are outdated and hypocritical.
D’Souza, who has positioned himself as a disruptor of traditional sports governance, claims that the Enhanced Games will provide a more transparent and safer environment for athletes who already use enhancements in secret.
However, critics argue that legalizing performance-enhancing drugs could open the door to serious health risks, unfair competition, and long-term consequences for participants.
Trump Jr’s Investment and Rationale
Donald Trump Jr., through his venture fund 1789 Capital, has made a multi-million-dollar investment in the Enhanced Games.
He sees the event as a way to challenge what he describes as “elitist control” over global sports and promote what he calls “real competition.“
“For over 100 years, elites in charge of global sports have stifled innovation, crushed individual greatness, and refused to let athletes push the limits of what’s possible. That ends now,” Trump Jr. said in a statement.
He has also said the Enhanced Games align with the MAGA movement’s emphasis on “free-market competition and American dominance in global sports.”
“The Enhanced Games is about excellence, innovation and American dominance on the world stage–something the MAGA movement is all about,” Trump Jr. said.
Event Structure and Sports Included
The first Enhanced Games are expected to take place in late 2025 or early 2026, though no official location has been confirmed.
The competition will feature five key categories: track and field, swimming, weightlifting, gymnastics, and combat sports.
Unlike the Olympics, athletes will compete as individuals rather than representing nations, emphasizing personal achievement over national pride.
Alongside Trump Jr., the Enhanced Games have attracted investment from figures such as tech mogul Peter Thiel, crypto investor Balaji Srinivasan, and German financier Christian Angermayer.
The financial backing suggests that investors see this as a potentially lucrative venture, though whether athletes and audiences will buy in remains to be seen.
Medical Oversight and Athlete Safety
The Enhanced Games claim to prioritize athlete health by requiring rigorous medical evaluations for all participants.
Organizers have pledged to implement cardiac imaging, blood and urine analysis, musculoskeletal assessments, brain imaging, and genomic sequencing. The stated goal is to ensure that enhancements are used “responsibly.”
Despite these assurances, many in the sports and medical communities remain skeptical.
The long-term effects of enhanced performance methods remain largely unknown, and concerns persist over whether a profit-driven model can truly prioritize athlete well-being.
Performance Enhancement Policy
Unlike traditional sports bodies, the Enhanced Games have openly embraced performance-enhancing drugs, though with some stated limits:
- Permitted Enhancements: Substances that organizers deem to have a favorable benefit-to-safety ratio, with medical supervision.
- Prohibited Enhancements: Highly addictive or permanently damaging drugs remain banned, though enforcement mechanisms are unclear.
Critics argue that this vague policy leaves plenty of room for interpretation—and potential abuse.
Financial Incentives and Athlete Compensation
The Enhanced Games emphasize financial rewards for participants, addressing a common criticism of traditional sports institutions. Organizers have promised:
- Top-tier appearance fees to attract high-profile athletes.
- Performance-based bonuses to reward competitors.
- Record-breaking rewards, including a $1 million prize for breaking select world records.
Supporters argue that this compensation model better values athletes’ contributions.
However, skeptics point out that the financial focus could encourage extreme risk-taking, with long-term health consequences taking a backseat to short-term gains.
A Controversial Reception
The Enhanced Games have drawn significant backlash from organizations such as WADA and the IOC, who argue that they could normalize drug use in sports and pose serious health risks.
While proponents claim the current anti-doping system is broken and riddled with hypocrisy, critics argue that allowing unrestricted use of enhancements is an extreme response that could do more harm than good.
The debate remains heated, and public perception will likely play a major role in determining whether the Enhanced Games gain traction or fizzle out.
