Improved games: World anti-doping chief Witold Banka urges US to end ‘dangerous and irresponsible’ event | Athletics News

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) President Witold Banka has urged the United States to intervene in the “Enhanced Games” as the event endangers the lives of athletes; The event will take place in Las Vegas next year, with Team GB swimmer Ben Proud taking part.

World anti-doping chief Witold Banka calls for intervention on enhanced Games

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) president Witold Banka told Sky Sports News an athlete’s life was at risk if he competed in the enhanced Games next year.

Banka believes more can and should be done to prevent the Enhanced Games from taking place in Las Vegas next year. He called for greater pressure from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and politicians to stop the event.

While all major global sporting events like the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics as well as most governments and most sports leagues are signatories to the WADA Code, which prohibits the use of performance-enhancing drugs and substances, the Enhanced Games is a private event that will take place in Las Vegas in May 2026 and where normal doping control rules generally do not apply.

The event organized in the United States is subject to the rules of the Federal Food & Drug Administration (FDA). So even though substances like cocaine and heroin are banned, many substances banned by WADA will be allowed at the Enhanced Games.

Banka is very concerned about the use of steroids, which are banned during the Olympics or the World Cup, and which are widely used in competition where their effects could have serious consequences on the health of athletes, including the risk of death.

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Geraint Hughes explains the controversial Enhanced Games and why British Olympic medalist Ben Proud joined them

Even if WADA has no jurisdiction to prevent the Enhanced Games from taking place, its objection is strong.

Enhanced Games has received considerable private investment, including from 1789 Capital – one of the company’s partners is Donald Trump Jnr, son of US President Donald Trump – declared Trump Jnr in favor; “The Enhanced Games represent the future: real competition, real freedom and real broken records.

WADA disagrees.

Banka, addressing Aerial sports in London, called the Enhanced Games an “irresponsible and dangerous event.”

“Ethically and morally, it’s difficult to talk about it, it’s contrary to everything we do. I hope this event will not take place.”

USADA has called the Enhanced Games a ‘clown show’, but WADA chief wants more pressure.

“(We) want our colleagues in the United States to do more, to have a strong stance on this… They can do more and try to convince those who are behind this to think twice.”

Regarding Trump Jr’s investment, Banka added: “We haven’t met any prime minister or president who thinks the Enhanced Games is a good idea. We want a strong government position.”

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Kelly Holmes strongly opposes enhanced Games and doesn’t think Olympic medalist Ben Proud should join event

FIFA, football’s governing body, is led by Gianni Infantino who has formed close ties with US President Donald Trump in recent years as the United States hosted the 2025 Club World Cup and prepares to host the 2026 World Cup. FIFA is a signatory to WADA, so football is subject to the global anti-doping code and rules.

When asked if Infantino could lobby President Trump regarding Enhanced Games Banka, he replied: “Believe me, we are working with many stakeholders to have a good situation with the United States.”

Although the Enhanced Games are modest in comparison to any WADA-compliant sporting competition, they have currently only recruited a handful of athletes, primarily from swimming backgrounds, to compete in the Enhanced Games. Recently, the first British athlete confirmed his intention to participate in the Games.

Ben Proud was a silver medalist for Team GB at the Paris 2024 Olympics

Swimmer and 2024 Olympic medalist Ben Proud has explained his reasons for retiring from swimming for Great Britain, NI and Team GB and competing in the Enhanced Games for Aerial sports in September, saying the financial reward on offer was too great to ignore and that he would need to win 13 world medals to accumulate the money he could earn in Las Vegas next year.

Proud also addressed issues surrounding the event’s security, disputing the event as being an “anti-doping for all” saying: “That’s not accurate. This (enhanced games) is a completely different format. Everything that is available is already available to the public via prescriptions – everything is FDA approved.

“Some of the treatments I’ve heard are really interesting…I’m looking forward to understanding what’s out there, what the side effects might be, and what the health risks are.”