WADA Chief Slams Enhanced Games as Dangerous and Unethical
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Director General Olivier Niggli has strongly condemned the proposed Enhanced Games, labeling them as medically unethical and perilous. In an interview with CGTN Sports Scene’s Greg Laffradi, Niggli expressed grave concerns over the event, which advocates for the use of performance-enhancing substances in sports.
“Frankly, I think it’s a joke to suggest that this can be safe,” Niggli stated. “The moment you take these kinds of substances, you risk a lot of side effects, whether they are immediate, mid-term, or long-term. There are always risks in taking medicines, whatever they are.”
Niggli warned about the potential impact on young athletes and emphasized the lack of understanding regarding the long-term effects of such practices. “In particular, in these circumstances, you actually have no idea of the long-term effects these products may have on someone’s body,” he continued. “So this is just against any medical ethics to take medicine for healthy individuals solely for performance enhancement.”
He criticized the Enhanced Games as a dangerous spectacle, comparing it to a “Roman circus” where the well-being of athletes is disregarded. “They have no idea what this could do to athletes. It’s actually a small screen to organize a Roman circus where the gladiators might die? Nobody cares.”
WADA, in coordination with international sports federations, is taking a firm stance against the Enhanced Games to protect the integrity of sports and the health of athletes worldwide.
