Photo: IOC Media

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes' Commission and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Athlete Council denounced the Enhanced Games as "irresponsible and immoral," cautioning that the event undermines the integrity of sport and poses serious risks to human health, according to a joint statement released ahead of the International Athletes Forum in Lausanne.

"As athletes, we believe that the Enhanced Games or any events encouraging the use of performance-enhancing substances and methods are a betrayal of everything that we stand for," said the statement issued on Tuesday.

The Enhanced Games, which are scheduled to take place in Las Vegas, the US, in May 2026, have caused an uproar in the global sports community and have drawn widespread condemnation from many stakeholders for openly condoning doping by athletes and claiming that "sport will be safer without doping controls."

The two athletes' commissions said that these events undermine the integrity of sport and the responsibility athletes hold as role models in society. 

Promoting performance-enhancing substances and methods sends a dangerous message - especially to current and future generations of athletes. Such substances can lead to serious long-term health consequences - even death - and encouraging athletes to use them is utterly irresponsible and immoral. No level of sporting success is worth such a cost, said the statement.

"We stand firmly together to uphold the values of fair play, ethical behavior and respect - principles that have shaped our journey and that we believe should guide and inspire the next generation of athletes. We will do everything we can to protect the integrity of sport for generations to come," said the athletes' representatives.

In June, the World Aquatics passed a bylaw against doping enablers, making it the first international sports federation to ban athletes, coaches and officials from its events if they have taken part in the controversial Enhanced Games, according to a statement sent to the Global Times by the world's aquatic sports governing body. 

"Under the new bylaw, ¬individuals who support, ¬endorse, or participate in ¬sporting events that embrace the use of scientific advancements or other practices that may include prohibited substances and/or prohibited methods will not be eligible to hold positions with the World Aquatics or to participate in any World Aquatics ¬competitions, events, or other activities," World Aquatics said in the statement. 

"Those who enable doped sport are not welcome at the World Aquatics or our events," said World Aquatics president Husain al Musallam. 

The Enhanced Games organizers, who openly permit the use of performance-enhancing drugs, violate the principles of fair competition and are also paving the way to their own downfall, Wang Dazhao, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times earlier.