This Thiel-backed venture allows doping in its own sports | TechCrunch
Key Takeaways
- The Enhanced Games plans to launch in Las Vegas in May 2026, aiming to disrupt the traditional Olympics.
- The competition explicitly allows athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs (doping).
- The venture is backed by notable investors, including Peter Thiel and Donald Trump Jr.’s 1789 Capital.
- The games will offer $1 million bounties for breaking world records.
- The business model relies on using the spectacle as marketing for future enhancement products.
The Enhanced Games is set to launch in May 2026 in Las Vegas, positioning itself as a disruptive competitor to the traditional Olympic Games by explicitly permitting the use of performance-enhancing substances by its athletes. This controversial initiative has garnered significant financial support from high-profile investors, including Peter Thiel and Donald Trump Jr.'s investment firm, 1789 Capital. The organization plans to incentivize record-breaking achievements with large cash prizes, specifically offering $1 million bounties for shattering existing world records. The business strategy behind the games is centered on using the controversial spectacle as a powerful marketing tool for future enhancement-related products, drawing parallels to Red Bull's marketing approach. Rebecca Bellan recently discussed the business aspects of enhancement and longevity with Aron D’Souza, the co-founder and President of the Enhanced Games, on the TechCrunch Equity podcast. The conversation touched upon the implications of building within the longevity space and the accessibility of such endeavors.
