The Enhanced Games, which are set to take place next May, will allow athletes to use performance-enhancing substances without being subjected to drug tests.

Aquatics GB has condemned team GB Olympic silver medallist Benjamin Proud, who retired from 'traditional swimming' on Wednesday in order to compete in the controversial competition.

This begs the question, what exactly does this mean for traditional “clean” athletes going forward?

Australian businessman Aron D’Souza, who created the Enhanced Games, said that, according to the International Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency, 44% of elite athletics competitors admit to using banned performance-enhancing drugs.

“I fundamentally believe science is real; technology enables us to live a stronger, healthier and happier life, so why don’t we allow the use of technology in sports?” he told The Pat Kenny Show.

“You have countries like China, the Soviet Union, modern-day Russia, have used state-sanctioned doping programmes.

“While some countries like Australia, US, Ireland, have very strong anti-doping programmes, which put their athletes at a disadvantage.

“So, instead of trying to hide this, let’s do it all out in the open under full scientific and clinical supervision and learn from it to improve the health and wellness of the entire human species.”

Medical equipment and containers for doping control test for sport competition drug testing. Image: JLK. 11 June 2023

Mr D’Souza pointed out that going to space and other feats like climbing Mount Everest are also incredibly risky but are still considered aspirational goals.

“Should we tell our children that we should not aspire to go to the stars of to climb mountains because there is risk? Of course not,” he said.

“I believe that individuals with free and informed consent are in charge of their own bodies and should set their own risk tolerance for themselves.

“Now, of course, we want to make sure that our athletes are healthy, happy and safe in their competition.

“Part of that is to ensure that every athlete who competes, whether they’re natural or enhanced, has a full system health checkup.”

According to Mr D’Souza, a “world-class medical team” will monitor all athletes before and throughout their performance.

Mr D’Souza also said the games will pay athletes “significant sums of money”, in order to help combat what he sees as a “deeply unfair system” of pay for athletes.

Main image: Doping in sport, concept photo. Image: Peter Kováč. 13 May 2020