by Michael BascombeA leading Caribbean anti-doping authority has issued a firm warning to regional athletes to steer clear of the controversial Enhanced Games set to debut in August 2026.
Speaking on the TalkSports programme on Saturday, Dr Adrian Lorde, Chair of the National Anti-Doping Commission of Barbados, cautioned athletes about the serious health risks linked to performance-enhancing drug use despite the event’s promise of substantial financial rewards.
During the live interview with host Michael Bascombe, Dr Lorde emphasised that the allure of lucrative earnings should never eclipse the potential physical and ethical dangers involved. “Athletes must weigh the immediate gains against the long-term impact on their health and the integrity of their careers,” he said. “Doping carries risks that extend well beyond the playing field, including severe medical complications and lasting damage to an athlete’s reputation.”
Earlier this week, the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO) released a formal statement condemning the Enhanced Games concept in unequivocal terms. The organisation labelled the event as “abhorrent,” particularly because it promotes various forms of doping, whether state-sponsored, medically supervised, or otherwise.
“The encouragement of any form of doping, whether state-sponsored, ‘medically-guided’ or otherwise, is abhorrent,” the statement declared. “Those who engage in such practices should not enter clean sport, nor hold the title of champion, record holder or otherwise. Beyond competition, any individual or group that supports these Games should hold no position of leadership in sport or other sanctioned competition.”
RADO further warned that the Enhanced Games represent a fundamental threat to the values that underpin global sport. “The Enhanced Games can be seen as a body which is attempting to undermine and contaminate what the global sports movement continually works hard to protect and preserve.”
Dr Lorde reinforced this position, urging Caribbean athletes and sports organisations to take a unified stand. “We encourage all athletes, particularly those in the Caribbean, to steer clear of the Enhanced Games and the significant risks they entail — both to personal health and to the integrity of sport,” he said.
The National Anti-Doping Commission of Barbados and RADO concluded by calling on all Caribbean sports bodies to publicly oppose the Enhanced Games, ensuring that the region continues to uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct and athlete safety.
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