Photo: IC

China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) expressed firm opposition to the Enhanced Games and called on the global sports community to stand united in rejecting the event, according to a statement issued by the CHINADA on Friday.

Recently, a sports event called Enhanced Games announced its plan to take place in Las Vegas, US, in May next year. The event, which openly condones doping by athletes and claims that "sport will be safer without doping controls," has caused an uproar in the global sports community and has drawn widespread condemnation from various stakeholders.

"We strongly urge USADA to follow the Code and International Standards and take decisive measures to oppose the Games and to refrain from hegemonic actions under the pretext of reforming the global anti-doping system," said CHINADA.

Although the Enhanced Games use "the achievements of science and technology should be celebrated" as a promotional slogan, it is in fact a distorted competition that turns pure sports competition into a drug contest, which seriously contradicts the purpose of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) and severely threatens the physical and mental health of athletes as well as the spirit of sport, said the statement. 

The organizer of the event continues to offer high prizes, economic sponsorships and other incentives to attract athletes and investors into the Games, luring athletes into risking their health to "bet" on commercial interests and satisfying some people's desire to watch a "gladiator show." All of this shows that the emergence of this event is pushing the integrity of sport into a deep crisis, the statement read. 

CHINADA noted that the USADA's response since the release of the Games plan reveals its weakness in the face of powerful interest groups and wealthy sponsors.

Several sports governing bodies have denounced the event, calling it a dangerous spectacle that undermines the integrity of sport and puts athlete welfare at risk.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has voiced strong opposition to the Enhanced Games, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Friday.

"WADA condemns the Enhanced Games as a dangerous and irresponsible concept. The health and well-being of athletes is WADA's No.1 priority," said WADA on Thursday. "Clearly this event would jeopardize that as it seeks to promote the use of powerful substances and methods by athletes for the purposes of entertainment and marketing."

WADA warned that the consequences of performance-enhancing drugs use extend far beyond sport. "Over the years, there have been many examples of athletes suffering serious long-term side effects from their use of prohibited drugs. Some have died," according to Xinhua. 

WADA also warned that athletes and their support teams who participate in the Enhanced Games could violate the World Anti-Doping Code or even criminal laws.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) also issued a pointed statement denouncing the Games.

"If you want to destroy any concept of fair play and fair competition in sport, this would be a good way to do it," Xinhua reported, citing a spokesperson. "Worse than that, no parent would ever wish to see their child competing in such a damaging format in which performance-enhancing drugs are a central part of the concept."

World Aquatics, the global governing body for swimming, has condemned the Enhanced Games a circus built on shortcuts and instead promoted a healthy and fulfilling sporting lifestyle, according to Xinhua.

Global Times