WADA, IOC Urge US to Cancel Drug-Enhanced Games Las Vegas 2026

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is actively urging U.S. authorities to legally block the Enhanced Games, a planned 2026 Las Vegas event where athletes are allowed and encouraged to use performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision, with $1 million bonuses offered for breaking world records. WADA President Witold Banka condemned the event for normalizing dangerous drug use and emphasized the health risks and ethical violations it poses, calling on the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) to take a leading role in stopping it. USADA head Travis Tygart labeled the event a "dangerous clown show that puts profit over principle," while World Aquatics announced it will ban participants from future competitions. The event, backed by investors including a group linked to Donald Trump Jr., has drawn international criticism, especially due to its timing near the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Legal challenges are being explored, particularly regarding the role of doctors in administering these drugs, which Banka finds incompatible with medical ethics. Overall, WADA and allied organizations are determined to preserve athlete health and the integrity of sport by preventing the Enhanced Games from proceeding.