can steroids combat population collapse? the enhanced games wants to find out.

The Enhanced Games: A Bold Vision or a Publicity Stunt?

The newly conceived Enhanced Games, a sporting event explicitly permitting the use of performance-enhancing drugs, has sparked considerable debate. Some view it as a sensational publicity campaign geared towards a techno-macho audience – envisioning Olympic-level athletes utilizing steroids and vying for substantial million-dollar prizes in Las Vegas.

However, co-founder Aron D’Souza outlines a different ambition: a telehealth business with a projected 90% gross margin, and a strategic proposal for governments grappling with aging populations.

Launching in 2026 with Backing from Peter Thiel

Scheduled to commence in May 2026, with financial support from Peter Thiel, the Games are offering $1 million rewards for breaking existing world records.

Notably, several former Olympic athletes, including sprinter Fred Kerley and swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev, have already committed to participation. The primary objective extends beyond simply witnessing record-breaking performances; it’s about establishing a powerful marketing platform for the burgeoning longevity industry, an industry D’Souza anticipates will be valued in the trillions.

A Marketing Engine for Human Enhancement

“We leverage sports marketing to promote a human enhancement product,” D’Souza explained during a recent appearance on Equity. “Our service functions similarly to telehealth platforms like Hims or Roman, but with demonstrable evidence that the world’s most elite and fastest athletes utilize our protocols.”

The business strategy mirrors that of Red Bull – utilizing extreme sports as advertising for a product – yet the product itself differs significantly. Instead of an energy drink, it encompasses substances like testosterone, growth hormone, and other compounds designed to maintain human competitiveness against machines and extend productive lifespans well into the 70s and beyond.

Controversy and a Bet on Changing Perceptions

Despite the controversy surrounding the Games, D’Souza is confident that public perception will shift as athletes in their 30s and 40s begin to surpass world records.

Alongside billionaire co-founder Christian Angermayer, he has secured “double-digit millions” in funding based on this belief, and has recruited personnel from the U.S. Olympic Committee, Red Bull, and FIFA to realize what D’Souza describes as a mission to “upgrade all of humanity.”

A Watershed Moment for Enhanced Humans

“I firmly believe that when Fred [Kerley] breaks [Usain Bolt’s] 100-meter world record in Vegas next year, it will represent a pivotal moment, demonstrating the superiority of enhanced humans over ordinary humans,” D’Souza stated.

In essence, D’Souza posits that a chemically-assisted sprint could initiate a new era of human enhancement, attracting a similar surge of investment seen with the launch of the space age following Sputnik and the AI boom triggered by ChatGPT.

The Growing Longevity Industry

In 2024, longevity startups attracted $8.5 billion in investment, signaling a transition from a niche interest to a mainstream investment focus. This appeal extends from billionaire-funded anti-aging research to everyday individuals embracing direct-to-consumer health tracking as traditional healthcare proves insufficient.

However, D’Souza argues that longevity is no longer merely desirable; it’s becoming essential in the face of aging populations and increasingly sophisticated machines.

Addressing Population Decline and Immigration Concerns

Falling birth rates in numerous countries are placing significant strain on global economies, potentially leading to population collapse. A recent McKinsey study revealed that fertility rates are falling below replacement levels in most regions, with the exception of sub-Saharan Africa.

While immigration has historically been used to mitigate the effects of aging populations – as immigrants typically arrive at younger, working ages and contribute to labor forces – it has also sparked political opposition in Europe and the U.S., fueled by concerns about national identity.

The Japan Model and the Need for Alternatives

D’Souza suggests that opposition to mass immigration could lead to demographic trends similar to those in Japan, which has one of the oldest populations globally, with an average age of 49.8 years.

“How do you balance the desire for economic growth with an anti-immigration stance?” he asks. “The solution must be longevity and human enhancement, as there is no other viable path. We require a young, working, tax-paying population, which is incompatible with declining birth rates.”

A Stark Proposal: Enhance, Don't Migrate

This presents a compelling, yet unconventional, proposition: instead of embracing immigration or bolstering social safety nets to encourage higher birth rates, focus on extending human working lives through enhancement. D’Souza dismisses alternative policies, citing the failure of European family support programs to significantly increase birth rates.

Notable Backers and the AI Question

Given this context, The Enhanced Games has attracted support from figures like Thiel and Donald Trump Jr., through his venture capital firm 1789 Ventures. D’Souza characterizes both as being “deeply concerned about national demographics.” Thiel has invested heavily in longevity startups, including Retro Biosciences, Unity Biotechnology, and NewLimit.

However, many of the Games’ investors are also heavily invested in artificial general intelligence (AGI) – AI capable of performing any intellectual task a human can – raising the question of why extend working lives if AGI is poised to automate most jobs.

Humans vs. Machines: A New Competition

“Some, like Sam [Altman], believe AGI will arrive, replace humans, and render us a secondary species,” D’Souza explains. “The inevitable consequence, which Sam won’t acknowledge, is human irrelevance.”

D’Souza proposes an alternative: a competition between humans and machines. “Machines are improving rapidly, but outdated regulations from organizations like the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency stifle human enhancement, preventing us from upgrading quickly enough to compete.” His goal is to ensure humans remain competitive.

The Equity Concerns of Enhancement Access

However, a critical concern is that access to enhancement technologies may not be universal. D’Souza acknowledges that “technology diffusion” might eventually lead to a trickle-down effect, with benefits initially available to elite athletes, then to CrossFit enthusiasts, and eventually to a broader population.

However, the business model – premium telehealth services marketed through elite athletes – suggests a potential scenario where the wealthy gain access to enhancement, while others simply age.

When questioned about the possibility of elites hoarding access to these capabilities, D’Souza conceded, “I think that is a potentially pernicious consequence of human enhancement.”