Enhanced Games: “Shocked”: Criticism of the Kusch change to doping games

Money -driven, scandalous – or even a betrayal of the ideals of sport? Swimmer Marius Kusch caused great sensation with the announcement of his change to the controversial Enhanced Games. The first German athlete who wants to participate in the so -called doping games, in addition to understanding for the financial incentive, harvests sharp criticism.

“We actually have certain values, certain attitudes-and now someone from this circle is moving out that has supported it for years. It is difficult for me to understand,” said Dorothea Brandt, the former active spokeswoman for the German Swimming Association (DSV), the German Press Agency.

Britta Steffen, double Olympic champion from 2008 in swimming, said when asked by DPA: “Ultimately, such a decision always depends on its own value system.”

Kusch (32) has given his promise for the controversial project, in which world records are also to 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.

“Everyone has the right to be able to determine freely over their bodies,” said the German Olympic Sports Confederation in a statement: “However, if you follow health -threatening projects such as the Enhanced Games, knowingly accepts to position yourself outside the community of sport.” The games would also violate the use of doping against law applicable in Germany.

Swimming association condemns project “Sharpest”

Previously, DSV CEO Jan Pommer had expressed himself with clear words: “The Enhanced Games are diametrically for everything that the sport stands for.” They would mock fairness, health and the authorization to exist by not only to tolerate doping, “but also staged as a supposedly autonomous option for self -optimization”. The swimming association condemns this “strongest”.

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.” Steffen also emphasized: “It would never have been anything for me.”

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. The International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency have sharply criticized the project.