The Enhanced Games, or ‘steroid Olympics’, are on. They pose risks for athletes and those watching

The Conversation · 🇦🇺 public Australia · May 25, 2026 · 913 words · By Luke Cox; Samuel Cornell; Timothy Piatkowski

Integrity of Sport Commercial Conflict of Interest Public Health Risk Bodily Autonomy vs. Control

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What to know about Integrity of Sport

The article discusses the Enhanced Games, an event allowing performance-enhancing drugs, and analyzes the arguments used by its founder, Aron D'Souza. The author critiques the event's claims regarding bodily autonomy and anti-doping, while raising concerns about public health risks and commercial conflicts of interest.

Propaganda risk 40%

Claims checked 15

Techniques found 4

Topics 4

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center75%

Right25%

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

What happened

The inaugural Enhanced Games are underway in Las Vegas and are set to be a unique spectacle that promotes drug-induced “enhancement”.

Why it matters

The International Olympic Committee has condemned the event as a way to “destroy any concept of fair play” and “moronic”.

Common ground

The clearest point to anchor on is this: Beyond social media, the Enhanced Games has some rich and powerful backers. These include 1789 Capital (Donald Trump Jr’s fund) and Peter Thiel.

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.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Integrity of Sport story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Beyond social media, the Enhanced Games has some rich and powerful backers. These include 1789 Capital (Donald Trump Jr’s fund) and Peter Thiel?
How does this story connect Integrity of Sport with Commercial Conflict of Interest over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://theconversation.com/the-enhanced-games-or-steroid-olympics-are-on-they-p…

analyticsAnalysis

40%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 90%

Moderate concerns. Notable use of persuasive or loaded language.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 4 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 90% 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 70% confidence

Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.

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 80% confidence

Building support by instilling anxiety or panic in the audience.

Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to fear helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Cherry Picking 70% confidence

Selectively presenting evidence that supports one side while ignoring contrary evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing cherry picking 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.

schedule Pending 5

info Single Source 3

check_circle Corroborated 3

help Insufficient Evidence 2

verified Verified 1

verified Verified By Reference 1

schedule

Claim 1: “Beyond social media, the Enhanced Games has some rich and powerful backers. These include 1789 Capital (Donald Trump Jr’s fund) and Peter Thiel”

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 2: “athletes are paid mid-to-high six-figure salaries simply to take part”

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.

info

Claim 3: “The athletes involved include Australian former 100 metres freestyle world champion James Magnussen, US 2022 world 100m sprinting champion Fred Kerley, and the UK’s Ben Proud, who won silver in the Paris Olympics in the 50m freestyle.”

SINGLE SOURCE

While Wikipedia confirms the event's existence and a web search mentions Fred Kerley, there is no comprehensive evidence in the provided results confirming the specific trio of Magnussen, Kerley, and Proud as participants. The Wikipedia results provided for this claim are largely irrelevant (Epistle of James, underwear models).

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Enhanced Games (TEG) is a multi-sport event. Founded by Australian businessman Aron D'Souza, it allows athletes to use performance-enhancing substances without being subject to drug tests; organiz…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_Games

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 Enhanced Games were the inaugural edition Enhanced Games which took place on 24 May 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event served as the debut for the organization's model and featured competit…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Enhanced_Games

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following is a list of male underwear models. This is not a complete list and includes men who have modeled underwear as well as fashion apparel from all over the world. This list excludes models …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_male_underwear_models

+ 3 more evidence sources

check_circle

Claim 4: “The inaugural Enhanced Games are underway in Las Vegas”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources (Nypost, The Conversation, Daily Maverick) confirm the inaugural Enhanced Games are scheduled for May 24, 2026, in Las Vegas.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional American football team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Raiders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas_Raiders

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Resorts World Las Vegas is a resort and casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, Nevada, United States. It is owned and operated by Genting Group as part of the Resorts World brand. It had been th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resorts_World_Las_Vegas

+ 3 more evidence sources

help

Claim 5: “In our newly accepted paper in the Journal of Drug Issues, we analysed 13 key YouTube interviews featuring the founder of the Enhanced Games, Australian tech entrepreneur Aron D'Souza.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding a paper in the Journal of Drug Issues analyzing Aron D'Souza's interviews.

schedule

Claim 6: “a study that found the number of athletes competing with valid exemptions at the Olympic Games is less than 1%, with no association between being granted an exemption and winning a medal.”

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.

check_circle

Claim 7: “They can claim $1 million bounties for “breaking” world records”

CORROBORATED

Two separate web search results confirm the promise of $1 million bounties for breaking world records.

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 — Forty-two athletes will compete in swimming, sprinting, weightlifting and strongman. They can claim $1 million bounties for “breaking” world records (previously set by drug-tested athletes).
https://theconversation.com/the-enhanced-games-or-steroid-ol…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Launching in May 2026 with Peter Thiel’s backing, the Games promise $1 million bounties for breaking world records. Former Olympic athletes like sprinter Fred Kerley and swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev hav…
https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/24/can-steroids-combat-popula…

verified

Claim 8: “Forty-two athletes will compete in swimming, sprinting, weightlifting and strongman.”

VERIFIED

A web search result explicitly states that 'Forty-two athletes will compete in swimming, sprinting, weightlifting and strongman'.

info

Claim 9: “Any records set won’t be ratified by international sporting federations”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence provided for this claim consists only of dictionary definitions of the word 'international' and does not address whether sporting federations will ratify records.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — International mostly means something (a company, language, or organization) involving more than a single country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompas…
https://simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/International

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Discover the full range of trucks from International®. Driver-centric, durable and endlessly versatile. Explore medium-duty, heavy-duty, and severe-duty trucks and let’s get to work.
https://www.international.com/products/trucks

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 3 days ago · The meaning of INTERNATIONAL is of, relating to, or affecting two or more nations. How to use international in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/international

help

Claim 10: “Mandatory blood testing for health markers is invasive and strips choice away from athletes.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding mandatory blood testing requirements for the Enhanced Games.

verified

Claim 11: “The International Olympic Committee has condemned the event as a way to “destroy any concept of fair play” and “moronic”.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of dictionary definitions of 'international' and general Wikipedia entries on doping and the Olympics, but contains no specific quote or statement from the IOC calling the event 'moronic' or a way to 'destroy any concept of fair play'.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Competitors at the Olympic Games have used banned athletic performance-enhancing drugs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doping_at_the_Olympic_Games

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The modern Olympic Games (Olympics; French: Jeux olympiques) are the world's biggest international sporting events. They feature summer and winter sports events in which thousands of athletes from aro…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Games

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 12: “In 2026, the FDA, under Robert F. Kennedy Jr, loosened restrictions on testosterone prescribing and certain peptides.”

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.

info

Claim 13: “A favourite study cited by D'Souza claims 40% (or more) of elite athletes use PEDs, even though only about 2% get caught.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The search results provided for this claim are generic links to study websites (Study.com, STUDY4) and do not contain the specific study or claim cited by D'Souza.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Master any subject with Studley AI. Trusted by more than 2,000,000 top students. Create beautiful and interactive notes, flashcards, quizzes and podcasts from any content. Study smarter, not harder.
https://www.studley.ai/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Need a Study.com Account? Simple & engaging videos to help you learn Unlimited access to 88,000+ lessons The lowest-cost way to earn college credit
https://study.com/academy/login.html

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — STUDY4 - học tiếng Anh và luyện thi online TOEIC, IELTS, SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT.
https://study4.com/

check_circle

Claim 14: “those competing in the Enhanced Games can use US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved performance-enhancing substances under a proposed framework of medical supervision.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources (Wikipedia, a sponsor message, and a report on Witold Banka) confirm that competitors are permitted to use FDA-approved performance-enhancing substances under medical supervision.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Enhanced Games 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 drug test…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_Games

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Sponsor Message. Enhanced Games competitors are allowed to use performance-enhancing drugs that are banned in internationally recognized sporting events. According to the company , the drugs are FDA-a…
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/24/nx-s1-5831252/enhanced-games-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Speaking to reporters at an event in London on Thursday,, external Banka described the Enhanced Games - which permits competitors to use performance-enhancing substances under medical supervision - as…
https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/c4gpwk0lpy2o

schedule

Claim 15: “athletes are given drug protocols – they are told which drugs can be used, in which quantities and for how long.”

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.

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.