The Enhanced Games, a new sports competition allowing athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision, are set to take place in Las Vegas.

The privately funded event features more than 40 athletes competing in swimming, sprinting, hurdles, weightlifting, and strongman contests for a total prize pool of $25 million.

Organizers say the competition is designed to explore the limits of human performance while openly embracing scientific enhancement methods that are banned in traditional sports such as the Olympics.The event is backed financially by Donald Trump Jr.’s venture capital firm, 1789 Capitol, along with technology investor Peter Thiel.The company behind the games also plans to market peptides and supplements while collecting data on athlete enhancement practices.

According to organizers, most participants are using substances such as testosterone, human growth hormone, and stimulants under physician supervision.However, many medical experts and anti-doping organizations strongly oppose the event.Critics argue that FDA approval for certain drugs does not guarantee their safety when used at high doses for athletic performance.Experts warn that long-term risks may include cardiovascular disease and other serious health complications.The International Olympic Committee, the World Anti-Doping Agency, and the U.S.Anti-Doping Agency have all criticized the competition, calling it dangerous and unethical.Despite the controversy, several well-known athletes, including Olympic medalists and former world champions, are participating.Some competitors have stated they will not use banned substances during the event.

The games have sparked a broader debate about ethics, athlete safety, commercialization, and the future of performance enhancement in professional sports.