Enhanced Games: Ex-swimmer criticizes Kusch change to doping games

For ex-swimmer Dorothea Brandt, the change of her former teammate Marius Kusch to the controversial Enhanced Games is something like a betrayal of the ideals of sport. “Somehow it already feels like this. We actually have certain values, certain attitudes-and now someone from this circle who has supported it for years is moving out. It is difficult for me to understand,” said the former active spokeswoman for the German Swimming Association (DSV) of the German Press Agency.

Kusch (32) was the first German athlete to have his promise for the controversial project, in which world records should also be set up with the help of doping agents. The 2019 short railway champion also justified this with the “unprecedented prize money” that must be earned there.

A lot of money – but also dark shadows

The Enhanced Games are scheduled for the first time in May 2026 in Las Vegas. Three sports are planned: swimming, athletics and weight lifting with selected disciplines. According to the information, each individual event is endowed with prize money of $ 500,000 (around 424,000 euros), $ 250,000 (around 212,000 euros) each get to the winners. In addition, the organizers offer inaugural fees and a million US dollars for times that have not previously run and swam over 50 meters freestyle and the 100 meters in athletics.

The argument of money allows Brandt only to a limited extent in its evaluation. “Anyone who makes competitive sports, especially swimming, knows that you don’t get rich,” said the 2010 short railway champion from 2010. Money is “of course a great motivator,” says Brandt: “But this dark side that I enter is the other perspective.”

“But then you may be dead in ten years”

The former sprint specialist also sees the Enhanced Games critically from a health perspective. “Is it worth the whole stuff – even if this is monitored by a doctor – nobody knows what happens in ten years. What will happen to you? Then have five years more coal, but then you may be dead in ten years,” said the 41 -year -old. She herself had categorically rejected such a request at active times: “For me it would have been a question of character and I wouldn’t have done it.”

Brandt also points out that the athletes, which have changed to the Enhanced Games, may be used for marketing purposes. “We are blatant at first, but people are still curious and want to know what happens, how does it work,” she said: “This is how good marketing works.” The Enhanced Games leadership includes the German billionaire Christian Angermayer, including co-founder of a biopharma company, and the Australian Oxford graduate Aron d’Auza.