Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-02-14 21:00:00
In May of last year, the news came that Rhonex Kipruto, the current 10 kilometers road race world record holder, was suspended for doping. This was just another in a string of doping cases involving Kenyan athletes, mostly long-distance runners, over the previous five years. The slew of suspensions had led to reports that Kenya’s reputation as a track and field powerhouse had been tarnished by a drugs crisis. However, there was a glimmer of hope for these athletes in the form of American billionaire and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel.
Thiel had decided to invest his money in a drug-fuelled Olympic-style game that would allow competitors to use performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and push their bodies to new limits. Styled as a modern reinvention of the Olympics without drug testing, the for-profit ‘Enhanced Games’ would initially focus on smashing world records in athletics, swimming, gymnastics, weightlifting, and combat sports, according to Men’s Health magazine.
Though the idea has received criticism, with many claiming that it undermines the spirit of sport and poses a danger to athletes’ health, Thiel is just one of several high-profile venture capitalists backing the project. It has been reported that enough money has been raised to produce the first Games, with the competition allowing athletes to use any substances openly and honestly.
The move to create the Enhanced Games is in response to what is seen as an archaic and punitive anti-doping regime. Many Kenyan athletes, along with hundreds of others around the world, have seen their livelihoods taken away due to failing a single drug test or missing a scheduled off-season test. The current anti-doping rules operate on a one-strike policy, where athletes are banned for life after a single offense. Thiel’s initiative seeks to level the playing field and disrupt the current state of affairs.
The rationale behind the Enhanced Games is that it recognizes the changing nature of the world. With more than 40% of the global population playing video games, there is a desire for a convergence of virtual sports with the real world. This next generation of citizens wants to see a blend of virtual and real sports, and the Enhanced Games aims to provide exactly that.
Furthermore, the Games could serve as a platform for the development of technology that has broader applications beyond the sporting world. For example, body implants that aid motor function for people with paralysis could see advancements, leading to technologies that allow individuals to walk again. This progressive approach will ultimately benefit humankind.
In addition to promoting technological advancements, the Games could also address the environmental impact of traditional sporting events. For instance, the carbon footprint of events such as the Olympics is significant, and the Games could offer an opportunity to give back to the community and the environment.
The creation of the Enhanced Games raises complex ethical and moral questions about the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports, but it also presents novel opportunities for the development of technology that can benefit society as a whole. Ultimately, the Games could pave the way for a new era in sports that integrates technological advancements, addresses environmental concerns, and provides a platform for athletes to compete on a level playing field.
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