In an exclusive interview with The Athletic, Director General Benjamin Cohen cautioned that the emergence of the Enhanced Games could prompt a reassessment of global anti-doping systems.
The first edition of the Enhanced Games—dubbed by critics the “doped Olympics” due to its allowance of performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision—is set to take place on 24 May in Las Vegas. A total of 47 athletes will compete across sprinting, short-distance swimming, and weightlifting, with a $1 million (€920,000) bonus on offer for any world record performance.
In February 2025, Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev reportedly clocked 20.89 seconds in the 50m freestyle, earning the $1 million prize after surpassing the previous mark by 0.02 seconds. However, the result was not recognised by World Aquatics. One month later, Australia’s Cameron McEvoy set an official world record of 20.88 seconds—faster than Gkolomeev’s time, which had been achieved using undisclosed prohibited substances.
These contrasting results have sparked debate, with some suggesting that a lack of record-breaking performances at the Enhanced Games could cast doubt on the integrity of results in traditional competitions. “It’s an interesting argument,” Cohen told The Athletic, “that if there are no world records at the Enhanced Games, it might imply athletes at World Championships or the Olympics are also doping.”
He added that such perceptions would necessitate serious reflection within the anti-doping community. “We would need to conduct an internal review if the assumption is that anti-doping bodies are unable to catch those who cheat. That could mean revisiting when and how we test, what substances we target, and whether current laboratory capabilities are sufficient.”
Cohen noted that the decline in positive doping cases raises further questions. “Are our efforts succeeding, or is there a larger issue we’re failing to detect? It may be time to reconsider both the timing and methods of testing to ensure the system remains effective.”
The ITA tested 92% of athletes at least once prior to the Games and carried out a total of 3,053 in- and out-of-competition tests on 1,848 competitors during the event.
However, Cohen cautioned against drawing firm conclusions from these figures, emphasising that samples are preserved and can be re-examined for up to a decade as detection methods evolve.
“History shows we need to be careful when assessing Olympic results,” the Swiss official said. “When the ITA began reanalysing samples from London 2012, nearly 50 medals were reassigned, and more than 70 samples initially deemed negative were later found to be positive.
“Currently, all samples from Milano Cortina have been declared negative, but we must remain patient. I wouldn’t go as far as calling it a complete success or saying the Games were entirely clean, because we may need to wait up to 10 years for advances in science to reveal substances that are not yet detectable.”
Looking ahead, the ITA’s next major task will be the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. By that time, the host city for the 2036 Olympics is also expected to have been decided, with Doha and Ahmedabad among the frontrunners.
While there is support for India’s bid, concerns remain about its anti-doping record. The country has reported the highest number of positive doping cases globally over the past three years and has also been widely associated in reporting with the production of performance-enhancing drugs.
“We’re concerned in general with the state of doping in India and we’re hearing a lot of things happening on the ground,” Cohen said. “We also hear stories of athletes running away when there is a doping control, and we hear of advance notice (given to athletes prior to testing).”
Cohen said he had recently met representatives of the Indian National Anti-Doping Agency and the Indian Olympic Committee, and was encouraged by their willingness to cooperate with the ITA. However, he acknowledged challenges remain.
“I’m going to be frank: there is still some resistance to engage with the ITA, as there can be a perception in India that this is almost an admission of failure of the system, or that they’re not going to be seen as competent enough to deal with their own problems, so they have to join forces with an independent international organisation. “There’s a bit of scepticism as to how it’s going to be perceived in the Indian community.”
The International Olympic Committee, Cohen said, has also raised concerns with Indian authorities, encouraging reforms as part of its wider engagement around future Olympic hosting ambitions. “There are a lot of governance and structural reforms that should happen for anti-doping to be highly efficient in India.
“But I think they’re on the right track in that it is now known that the Indian Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sports want to do something: they want to invest. They have the resources, so I think it’s just a matter of time.”
