Greek swimmer Kristian G Columneev was the big man at the first edition of the highly controversial Enhanced Games. He was faster than the world record in the 50 meter freestyle.

G Columneev will not get that world record because he was allowed to use banned performance-enhancing drugs. In addition to swimmers, athletes in the 100-meter sprint and powerlifters also took action in Las Vegas.

G Columneev (32) took part in the Olympic Games four times before saying goodbye to top sport. Last year he joined the Enhanced Games, where athletes are encouraged to use doping. Also his permitted, which have been prohibited in the swimming world for years. The organization rewarded G Columneev for his top time with a million dollars.

The event is seen as an unsafe and commercial project by Australian businessman Aron D’Souza.

For sports associations such as World Aquatics it is a thorn in the side because it is not based on ‘universal values’ such as fairness, justice and equality: “It is a circus, built on cheating.”

World anti-doping agency WADA previously called it “a dangerous and irresponsible project”. Chief executive Travis Tygart of the American anti-doping agency USADA called it “a clown show”.

The Dutch Doping Authority also disapproved: “It can lead to athletes being willing to take risks with their bodies because it yields a lot of money. We disapprove of that, because doping has been proven to be bad for the body.”

American athlete Fred Kerley caused a stir around his participation. The suspended former world champion in the 100 meters, who was on the Olympic podium twice in the king’s event, announced that he would smash Usain Bolt’s world record (9.58 seconds).

“OK,” Bolt posted cynically in response to X. Any record by Kerley wouldn’t have counted anyway. In addition to his suspension and the encouraged doping use, there was also no control over timekeeping and spikes were allowed to be used, which are prohibited in athletics.

On the athletics track that was laid out in the parking lot of a casino, Kerley did not even come close to the world top time. He also remained well above his personal best of 9.76. Because the suspended athlete won the competition, he took home $250,000, just like the winners of other events.

Kerley became the target of ridicule on social media, with the sprinter commenting bitterly about the other participants. “A lot of false starts, a lot of unrest. Many people don’t feel like running the preliminaries and so on.”

By the way, Kerley is one of the participants who claims not to use doping. He hopes to return to athletics after his two-year suspension with a view to the 2028 Olympic Games.