PayPal billionaire Peter Thiel is backing a new sports league called the “Enhanced Games” in which athletes won’t only escape punishment for using steroids, they’ll be encouraged to use them.
The league – referred to as “the Olympics on Drugs” – was thought up by Aaron D’Souza, a lawyer and businessman based in London who reckons he can revolutionize the world of sports. Launched in the summer, the Enhanced Games will look to host events from five disciplines, including athletics, gymnastics, aquatics, strength, and combat competitions.
Participants will be permitted to juice however they please.
D’Souza is of the view that the current system treats athletes unfairly, using them as pawns and putting a tap on the money they should be earning. His version of the games can shake things up by creating new records and bringing in new fans, in his view.
“This is the route towards eternal life,” he said, per The Independent. “It’s how we bring about performance-medicine technologies, that then create a feedback cycle of good technologies, selling to the world, more revenue, more R&D, to develop better and better technologies.
“And what is performance medicine about? It’s not about steroids and getting jacked muscles. It’s about being a better, stronger, faster, younger athlete for longer. And who doesn’t want to be younger for longer?”
According to D’Souza, several athletes have shown an interest. And, with the backing of individuals such as Thiel, as well as investor Christian Angermayer and former Coinbase chief of technology Balaji Srinivasan, it appears D’Souza could realize his dream of having the first event take place in December 2024.
