By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
The latest athlete to join the controversial Enhanced Games, which allow athletes to take performance-enhancing drugs which are banned in mainstream sport, is the former Great Britain sprinter, Reece Prescod.
Prescod, who is 29 years old, retired in August 2025, after taking part in three World Championships and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
He stated that:
"I'm eager to push myself to new heights in Las Vegas and race against my fellow sprinters. This is a new chapter for me, and I'm excited to be part of something where I feel valued and talent is recognised."
In response, Jack Buckner, the Head of UK Athletics, stated that:
"As a former athlete, I find this particularly appalling.”
And he added that:
"Those of us who have competed know what it takes to succeed the right way - through talent, dedication, and respect for the rules. To see a British athlete aligning themselves with an event that celebrates the use of performance-enhancing drugs is profoundly disappointing."
The Enhanced Games are scheduled to take place, for the first time, in May 2026, in Las Vegas, United States.
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘