Perspectives Of Sports Medicine Professionals On Treating And Supporting ‘Enhanced Athletes’ In The Context Of The Enhanced Games

English (OpenAlex)

(Authors continued) Sergio Migliorin: World Triathlon (WT), Lausanne, Switzerland; Maher Zahar: Tunisian Centre of Sports Medicine and Science, Tunis, Tunisia; Mark Stuart: University College London, UK; James Bilzon: University of Bath, Bath, UK; Giuseppe Massazza: University of Turin, Turin, Italy; Bruno Di Pietro: University ”Sapienza” Rome Italy, Rome, Italy; Khaled Massoud Hassan: Egyptian Ministry of Youth Sports, Mohandeseen, Giza, Egypt; Felix Albuquerque Drummond: IME Porto Alegre/Sports Medicine Institute, Brasil; Bertrand Fincoeur: Swiss Federal Technology Institute of Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland; Andrea Petroczi: Szechenyi Istvan University, Gyor, Hungary; Yannis Pitsiladis, FACSM: Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong BACKGROUND: Some elite athletes prioritize peak performance over long-term health, often leading to significant and lasting health consequences. The Enhanced Games (TEG) position themselves as a transhumanist experiment, advocating for the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), including banned methods, to push the boundaries of human athletic potential. PURPOSE: To explore the perspectives of sports physicians, sport scientists, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals on treating and supporting “enhanced athletes,” aiming to inform future guidelines. METHODS: Participants were invited via email and personal contacts to complete a brief anonymous online survey. RESULTS: A total of 323 sports medicine professionals responded (81% were sports physicians). 74% were willing to treat acute lesions and/or chronic diseases in “enhanced athletes.” In comparison, approximately 30% expressed support for assisting athletes in the use of PEDs and methods under medically supervised conditions. This support is contingent on compliance with WADA rules and national anti-doping laws to protect physicians from legal and professional consequences. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary findings align with the goal of fostering a sports culture that balances peak performance with athlete health. These results highlight the need for professional guidelines and support systems to safeguard the long-term well-being of athletes and call for further research into the impact of TEG on sports and its community. Supported by: This study was conducted without funding or the use of AI