World Anti-Doping Agency Director General Olivier Niggli didn’t hold back in a recent CGTN Sports Scene interview, calling the newly launched Enhanced Games medically unethical and outright dangerous. Speaking with host Greg Laffradi, Niggli warned that the event’s performance-boosting substances carry unpredictable risks for athletes of all levels.
"Frankly, I think it’s a joke to suggest that this can be safe," Niggli said. "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."
Beyond individual harm, Niggli is especially concerned about the message it sends to young fans: unregulated drug use disguised as sport. He urged international federations to stand firm against any event that treats athletes like gladiators in a modern-day Roman circus.
"In these circumstances, you actually have no idea of the long-term effects these products may have on someone’s body. So this is just against any medical ethics to take medicine for healthy individuals solely for performance enhancement," he added. "It’s a small screen to organize a Roman circus where the gladiators might die? Nobody cares."
With youth health at stake, WADA is already coordinating a global response alongside international sports federations. The agency plans to tighten regulations and ramp up education programs to protect athletes and preserve fair play. As the Enhanced Games spark debate, the fight for clean, ethical competition has never been more urgent.
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WADA Director General Niggli condemns dangerous Enhanced Games
cgtn.com
