'It Is Just Not Happening' – Enhanced Games CEO Gives Bold Assurance to Fred Kerley and Co

The new chief executive of the controversial Enhanced Games has declared that the inaugural event will transform public perception of doping in sports, despite widespread criticism from anti-doping authorities and governing bodies.

The Enhanced Games, which permit athletes to use performance-enhancing substances typically banned in mainstream competitions, are scheduled to debut in Las Vegas in May 2026.

The event will feature swimming, sprinting, and weightlifting, with high-profile athletes like sprinter Fred Kerley and swimmer Ben Proud already signed on.

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Critics have condemned the concept, citing significant health risks for athletes and a fundamental threat to the integrity of sport. However, new CEO Maximilian Martin is confident the event will prove its detractors wrong.

"A few institutions think we are bad - OK, I get it," Maximilian Martin told BBC Sport. "But, after the first Games, the public and existing institutions will be thinking very, very differently about us. They will see that no one exploded, no one had a heart attack while competing. It is just not happening."

Maximilian Martin believes the Enhanced Games will pioneer a new approach to athlete welfare. "Long term, I fundamentally think that other sports leagues will follow our approach, changing from a punitive testing system to one that is focused on the athletes' health and safety to compete," he added.

Organisers claim they can minimise the risks associated with banned substances through rigorous medical supervision and long-term health screening for up to five years post-competition.

This assertion has been challenged by medical experts, with a University of Birmingham paper highlighting the unknown long-term effects of many performance enhancers, including increased risks of heart attacks, cardiovascular damage, and mental health issues.

Despite the controversy, the roster of athletes is growing. Organisers have announced 21 participants, including three-time world champion Kerley and British Olympic silver medallist Proud, and expect to have around 50 competitors for the May event.

An Abu Dhabi-based training facility is being established where athletes can prepare under supervised doping regimens.

The venture has faced significant hurdles. Last July, World Aquatics banned any individual involved with the Enhanced Games from its events, a decision that an $800 million lawsuit from the Games failed to overturn in a New York court. Additionally, founder Aron D'Souza recently stepped down as CEO.

Maximilian Martin, a 29-year-old former investment banker, remains undeterred and insists the Games will proceed and expand.

"In terms of our ability to deliver the Games from a sporting perspective at the highest standards? I have full confidence in that," he stated.

Future plans include a biannual winter edition and one-off attempts to break world records. Martin also envisions expanding into triathlon, aiming to showcase a doped athlete completing an Ironman-distance event in a record-shattering time.

The business model relies on using the events to promote supervised medication and supplement programs to the American public.

Initially, the Games will be streamed for free on YouTube, and the 2,500 tickets for the Las Vegas venue will be given away to generate publicity.

"We don't need everyone in the world to love us, everyone in the world to be a fan or convince everyone of what we are doing," Martin explained. "We're okay with people disagreeing with it."

He also expressed his admiration for traditional sports, adding, "I also love the Olympic system. I went to Paris last year, it was one of the best sporting events I've ever been to. The Olympics should always stay the way that it is."

"It's amazing to see over 10,000 athletes from every sport imaginable, with the world uniting to celebrate, set aside conflicts, and share a common love for sport. We are just very, very different. Each of us is pursuing our own goals in our own right."