Enhanced Games: The ‘steroid games’ force sports to face tough questions

BBC Sport asked Enhanced Australian swimmer James Magnussen, whose fitness has improved dramatically since taking PEDs last year, if he is concerned about the long-term effects on his health.

“I believe there were going to be long-term implications for my health, certainly there were going to be some short- and medium-term indicators that said, ‘Hey, this isn’t being tracked properly, you’re seeing side effects,'” the three-time Olympic medalist said.

“As professional athletes, we naturally take risks with our health in what we do. There is nothing healthy about training at the peak of your physical ability for 30 hours a week.”

Some think that the former world champion has a point.

Byron Hyde, Honorary Research Associate at Bangor University He says., External “Recognize that the improved games are clearly demonstrating what society has always tacitly accepted – that when the entertainment is good enough, more people are willing to watch athletes get hurt,” critics say.

“This is something that all sports bodies should spend more time on.

“If brain damage can be the entertainment value of boxing, why the furore about pharmaceutical enhancements? The Olympics already celebrate athletes who push their bodies to the extremes.”

“Research has documented serious physical and psychological harm in many sports. Enhanced games can move the level of risk into a society that accepts it and moves it forward.”

Such an argument rarely holds with UK sports director Kate Baker.

“We are determined to win well,” she told BBC Sport. “We know we have some things we’re not proud of in the past, but we’ve come a long way from that.

“And it’s been very difficult for us to accept modded games as real. That’s something we’re absolutely against.”

“In our system, if you have high potential, you will be supported to achieve your potential, and you will do so in a healthy and non-injurious way.

“We have recently contacted all of our athletes to confirm that if they choose to take part in these events they may be in breach of our eligibility policy. They will not be eligible for any UK Sport funding but their ability to access our coaching and medical support.”