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An unprecedented sporting event recently excites sports fans: a competition without drug restrictions, known as the "Enhanced Games".
Experts call it "dangerous," others doubt it will ever happen, and in fact, there are very few details about how the "enhanced games" will work, other than one basic rule: There will be no drug testing.
The games are funded by venture capitalists and digital currency supporters, and in recent days the idea of a "dope-friendly" sports competition is gaining momentum.
Why?
Until now the president of the Games, Australian Aaron D'Souza, has stated that a former Olympic gold medalist will also be among the participants, but no one has identified himself.
This week it really happened: someone admitted that he was ready to participate in this madness.
The first to express willingness.
Magnussen/GettyImages, Adam Pretty
"If they pay $1 million for the world record in the 50-meter freestyle, I'll be willing to be their first athlete," said Australia's James Magnussen, a three-time Olympic medalist who won silver in the 100-meter freestyle in 2012. I will add juice to my gills and break the record in six months."
Former swimmer Liesel Jones, who won a three-time Olympic gold medal, said she was neither opposed to the concept of the games, nor to Magnussen's participation, hinting that such a competition would help "keep the sport clean."
The idea of drug-friendly games has already drawn reactions from the sports community.
The Australian Olympic Committee stated that it "believes that the idea of drug-enhanced games is dangerous".
According to one of the organizations fighting the phenomenon of stimulants in sports, even if drugs have been approved for legitimate medical treatments, their use outside these parameters can be "very dangerous".
Many of the substances used failed to pass clinical trials at all: "We have no idea about the long-term effects, so it's really scary and dangerous."
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The organizers claim: there are drugs in sports anyway.
In the photo: Ben Johnson in Seoul/GettyImages
When the Enhanced Games program was announced, the British Anti-Doping Agency said such competition would be "unsafe, dangerous to the health and well-being of athletes".
Even in sports where drug control is not always enforced, there is concern.
Australian Weightlifting Association director Robert Wilkes described the Enhanced Games program as "clearly dangerous".
He notes that in bodybuilding, where many organizations do not have control over drugs, there has been "an abundance of deaths in recent years, when drug use has increased."
The organizers of the "Enhanced Games" claim that "sport can be safer without drug testing" and claim that many athletes already use performance-enhancing drugs anyway.
They say athletes will receive a base salary and compete for prizes "larger than any other similar event in history."
As mentioned, people from capital funds and supporters of cryptocurrency such as Peter Thiel, Christian Angermeier and Balaji Srinivasan financed the program - but it is not yet clear who will participate in the games, when and where they will be activated, or exactly how much the prize amounts will be.
The event should include individual sports such as athletics, swimming, gymnastics and weightlifting.
There will be medals for first, second and third place, and the biggest prizes will be awarded to world record breakers.
According to Judy Ramsden-Maverich, the only woman on the 11-person leadership team, the "enhanced games" go against the "anti-scientific dogma of the sports leagues" after "years of suppression."
She claims that drug use in sports should be called "an illustration of the power of science" instead of "cheating".
Also, in her opinion, instead of calling an athlete a "steroid user", he should be called an "enhanced athlete".
How or would law enforcement be involved in such a contest?
There are almost 200 performance-enhancing drugs listed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, and prohibited for use.
Some are anabolic steroids, human growth hormone (HGH), erythropoietin (EPO) and stimulants including amphetamines, cocaine and ecstasy, while new substances are being developed all the time.
Instead of calling an athlete a "steroid user", he should be called an "enhanced athlete".
Armstrong/GettyImages, Mario Tama
Laws surrounding the use of performance-enhancing drugs vary around the world, while many are legal with a prescription.
According to many experts, the side effects of drug use can include palpitations, dizziness and vision loss, along with effects on blood clotting, stroke, heart attacks, fertility and the liver.
Steroid use can lead to short-term effects including baldness, acne and the development of breast tissue.
In women this can lead to voice changes, irregular periods and mental health effects including aggression, anxiety and insomnia.
It can also lead to an increased risk of dehydration, increased heart rate and blood pressure, and an "inability to recognize when you're injured."
EPO, an endurance-enhancing substance most associated with Lance Armstrong, has already been linked to the deaths of 20 Belgian and Dutch cyclists between 1987 and 1990.
D'Souza says that "with every action there is risk", and the key for Games organizers to manage risk will be clinical supervision.
He argues that drug testing is not about safety, but about fairness.
And he says the pressure to use drugs already exists because of the number of elite athletes who are already using banned substances.
It is doubtful whether it will convince the sports fans, it is doubtful whether it will happen, but it is definitely gaining momentum.
More on the same topic:
Australia
drugs
drugs in sports