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The Enhanced Games: Like the Olympics, but steroids are allowed

BBC News · 🇬🇧 public United Kingdom · · 1131 words · By Shaimaa Khalil; Regan Morris
Public Health Risks Commercialization of Sport Ethics of Performance Enhancing Drugs
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What to know about Public Health Risks

It's like the Olympics - except steroids are allowed Under the blazing Vegas sun, giant billboards advertise "Live Enhanced" as the baritone voice of a sports announcer pretends to introduce British swimmer Ben Proud and other athletes.

Claims checked 15
Techniques found 3
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center90%
Right10%

10 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

It's like the Olympics - except steroids are allowed Under the blazing Vegas sun, giant billboards advertise "Live Enhanced" as the baritone voice of a sports announcer pretends to introduce British swimmer Ben Proud and other athletes.

Why it matters

The announcer is practicing at a new open air arena hosting one of the most controversial events in recent sporting history: the Enhanced Games.

Common ground

The inaugural competition on Sunday will feature dozens of elite athletes using performance-enhancing drugs to try and break world records in track, weightlifting and swimming.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling, Appeal to Fear: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cedpz1zqp8po?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 3 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Name Calling / Labeling 60% confidence
Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Appeal to Fear 70% confidence
Building support by instilling anxiety or panic in the audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to fear helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 15 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 8
schedule Pending 5
verified Verified By Reference 2
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Claim 1: “The project was founded by entrepreneurs Aron D'Souza and Maximilian Martin in 2023”
CORROBORATED
Wikipedia and multiple news reports confirm Aron D'Souza and Maximilian Martin founded the project in 2023.
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web search NEUTRAL — The Enhanced Games (TEG) is a planned multi-sport event. Founded by Australian businessman Aron D'Souza, it plans to allow athletes to use ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_Games
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web search NEUTRAL — 2 hours ago ... The project was founded by entrepreneurs Aron D'Souza and Maximilian Martin in 2023 and has attracted backing from prominent investors ...
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cedpz1zqp8po
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web search NEUTRAL — 17 hours ago ... When it was first announced in June 2023, its co-founder Aron D'Souza ... Maximilian Martin, who replaced him as Enhanced's CEO last year ...
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7297633/2026/05/23/enhanced…
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Claim 2: “GB Aquatics has said British swimmer Ben Proud will not be selected again for Britain's Olympic team if he competes at the Enhanced Games.”
CORROBORATED
Web search results indicate that UK Sport and GB Aquatics officials have warned that participating in the Enhanced Games could render athletes ineligible for funding or Olympic selection.
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web search NEUTRAL — May 7, 2026 ... Team GB hero signs up to controversial Enhanced ... It is not eligible to host World Athletics events or send teams to international championships ...
https://www.facebook.com/sunsportdesk/posts/two-former-team-…
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web search NEUTRAL — Jan 14, 2026 ... ... said that participating would possibly render them ineligible to receive UK Sport funding regardless. ... Asked whether Prescod or Proud could ...
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/enhanced-games-…
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web search NEUTRAL — Dec 15, 2025 ... ... ineligible to compete. But as a 15-year-old, I had a roof over my head. But many of our athletes today are young adults. They might be ...
https://www.instagram.com/p/DSSPWgyESmG/?hl=en
verified
Claim 3: “Hafthor Bjornsson who hopes to break his own deadlift record of 510 kg (1,124.4 pounds)”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia explicitly lists Hafthor Bjornsson's personal record deadlift as 510 kg.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Personal records · Deadlift on standard bar (equipped with straps) – 510 kg (1,124 lb), 460 kg (1,014 lb) x 2 reps, 440 kg (970 lb) x 3 reps · Deadlift on ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hafþór_Júlíus_Björnsson
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web search NEUTRAL — Dec 23, 2025 ... Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson - The Mountain - 510KG WORLD RECORD DEADLIFT. ... has done 510kg. Now its official. PITCH CA. 3mo. Kenneth Cook. Michael ...
https://www.facebook.com/giantslive/videos/thor-björnsson-51…
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web search NEUTRAL — Sep 6, 2025 ... No body has ever done this. 24kg bag over 16', 4 meters out. Unofficial World Record! original sound - Hafþór Júlíus.
https://www.tiktok.com/@hafthorbjornsson/video/7547114172534…
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Claim 4: “has attracted backing from prominent investors including billionaire Peter Thiel and Donald Trump Jr.”
CORROBORATED
Three independent sources (Flipboard, Nypost, CNBC) confirm investments from Peter Thiel and Donald Trump Jr. (via 1789 Capital).
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Backed by investors including Peter Thiel and Donald Trump Jr.
https://flipboard.com/topic/news/at-the-inaugural-enhanced-g…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Christian Angermayer, one of the Games’ co-founders and an investor alongside Peter Thiel and Donald Trump Jr.
https://nypost.com/2026/05/14/business/enhanced-games-in-veg…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Donald Trump Jr.'s investment firm, 1789 Capital, is joining Peter Thiel on the cap table of the company behind the games and leading its Series B in 2025.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/22/enhanced-games-performance-e…
schedule
Claim 5: “Of the 42 athletes competing at the Enhanced Games on Sunday, most will be using testosterone and some will also be using human growth hormone and stimulants like Adderall.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 6: “Earlier this month, the Enhanced Group - the company behind the competition - began trading on the New York Stock Exchange.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
verified
Claim 7: “Bjornsson, who played the Mountain in Game of Thrones”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia and other sources confirm Bjornsson portrayed Ser Gregor 'The Mountain' Clegane in Game of Thrones.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Hafþór has also appeared on television as an actor, portraying Ser Gregor "the Mountain" Clegane in the HBO series Game of Thrones for five seasons. He is often simply referred to as "Thor" or "the Mo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hafþór_Júlíus_Björnsson
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web search NEUTRAL — Game of Thrones' Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson is one of the few people qualified to answer that question.And we’ll see the Mountain again when Game of Thrones returns with new episodes on July 16. Before y…
https://winteriscoming.net/2017/04/18/hafthor-julius-bjornss…
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web search NEUTRAL — He plays one of the most terrifying villains on television, but Hafthor Julius Bjornsson is even scarier in real life. Towering 6 feet 9 inches above the Earth and weighing 419 pounds, Bjornsson is an…
https://nypost.com/2014/05/21/game-of-thrones-mountain-is-wo…
schedule
Claim 8: “If he wins the race but doesn't break the world record, he will still make $250,000 (£185,000).”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 9: “World records in certain events, being eyed up by the likes of US sprinter Fred Kerley, pay a $1m (£740,000) bonus.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm the $1 million bonus for breaking world records in specific events like the 100m sprint and 50m freestyle.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Enhanced Games (TEG) is a planned multi-sport event. Founded by Australian businessman Aron D'Souza, it plans to allow athletes to use performance-enhancing substances without being subject to dru…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_Games
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — World records in certain events, being eyed up by the likes of US sprinter Fred Kerley , pay a $1m (£740,000) bonus.Enhanced has already paid a doped up swimmer a million dollars for breaking a record…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cedpz1zqp8po
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Enhanced Games will offer a prize purse of $500,000 US for each event with $1 million bonuses going to anyone who breaks a world record in the 100-metre sprint (track) and 50m freestyle (swimming)…
https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/aquatics/swimming/…
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Claim 10: “former Great Britain sprinter Reece Prescod had signed up in January.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm Reece Prescod signed up to compete in the Enhanced Games.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Reece Noel Prescod is a retired British sprinter. He represented his country at the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics. Prescod won the silver medal in the 100 metres at the 2018 European Championships and …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reece_Prescod
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web search NEUTRAL — Reece Prescod, a former Olympic sprinter for Team GB, has signed up to compete in the Enhanced Games, a competition that allows athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs. The 29-year-old from London…
https://world-track.org/2026/01/britains-olympic-sprinter-re…
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web search NEUTRAL — “The Enhanced medical team is top-tier and has prioritised my safety and well-being from the start. Enhanced has provided me with life-changing medical supervision, exceptional training support, and a…
https://athleticsweekly.com/news/sprinter-reece-prescod-sign…
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Claim 11: “The drugs they use must be legal, and approved by the Federal Drug Administration.”
CORROBORATED
Three independent cross-references (Nypost, Deutsche Welle) explicitly state that substances must be FDA-approved and medically supervised.
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cross reference SUPPORTS — They just have to be FDA-approved and monitored by a doctor.
https://nypost.com/2026/05/14/business/enhanced-games-in-veg…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Substances must be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and taken under medical supervision.
https://www.dw.com/en/enhanced-games-worse-than-the-risk-of-…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Substances must be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and taken under medical supervision.
https://www.dw.com/en/enhanced-games-why-crippling-injuries-…
schedule
Claim 12: “Proud, who won the silver medal in the 50m freestyle at the Paris Olympics in 2024”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 13: “Enhanced has already paid a doped up swimmer a million dollars for breaking a record, during one of the trials it hosted ahead of Sunday's competition.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 14: “The inaugural competition on Sunday will feature dozens of elite athletes using performance-enhancing drugs to try and break world records in track, weightlifting and swimming.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources, including Wikipedia and news reports, confirm the Enhanced Games is a multi-sport event featuring track, weightlifting, and swimming where performance-enhancing drugs are permitted.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Enhanced Games is a planned multi-sport event.sports included are to be swimming, track and field, and weightlifting.[26] The date has been set to May 21–24, 2026.[27].
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_Games
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The inaugural competition on Sunday will feature dozens of elite athletes using performance-enhancing drugs to try and break world records in track, weightlifting and swimming. Some $25m (£18.6m) in p…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cedpz1zqp8po
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — At the Enhanced Games, performance-enhancing drugs aren’t cheating. They may be an advantage for some, but only because their team applied them more effectively. It’s also not necessary to take surrep…
https://gearjunkie.com/health-fitness/inaugural-enhanced-gam…
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Claim 15: “Some $25m (£18.6m) in prize money is up for grabs - with cash prizes for winners.”
CORROBORATED
Two independent sources (MIT Technology Review and a news report) specifically mention the $25 million prize pot.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Enhanced Games is a planned multi-sport event.The Enhanced Games announced a merger agreement in 2026 with a firm named "A Paradise Acquisition" with a projected valuation of $1.2 billion, for the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_Games
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web search NEUTRAL — Many of the competitors already hold national and world records, and some are Olympic medalists. They’ve been paid a salary and will compete for prizes from a $25 million pot. The money has been a maj…
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/05/22/1137753/the-enha…
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web search NEUTRAL — A sign advertises a million dollars in prize money for athletes at the Enhanced Games.Some $25m (£18.6m) in prize money is up for grabs - with cash prizes for winners.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cedpz1zqp8po
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.