Controversial doping games
Swimmer sets world record that doesn’t count
May 26, 2026 – 9:14 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
At the Enhanced Games in Las Vegas, athletes are allowed to openly dope – and a Greek promptly breaks the world record. However, the record is not valid.
Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev broke the previous world record of 20.88 seconds with 20.81 seconds in the 50 m freestyle at the Enhanced Games in Las Vegas. The achievement is not officially recognized – the use of performance-enhancing substances is expressly permitted in the competition.
Gkolomeev competed in the Olympic Games four times between 2012 and 2024. He also won the 100 m freestyle race. “I’ll carry on,” announced the Greek. “Maybe I’ll break it again next year.” The event took place on Monday night in a purpose-built arena in front of the Resorts World Las Vegas skyline. 42 athletes competed in 18 events in the sports of swimming, athletics and weightlifting.
“They have to try harder, train a little harder.”
Three medalists from the 2024 Summer Games in Paris were also there: swimmer Hunter Armstrong (gold with the US relay), Briton Ben Proud (silver in the 50 m freestyle) and US sprinter Fred Kerley (bronze in the 100 m). All three won one of their two competitions. Armstrong and Kerley said they had not taken any performance-enhancing drugs.
Kerley has been banned since August 2025 for missing doping tests. He ran 9.97 seconds over 100 m – eight hundredths ahead of second-placed Liberian Emmanuel Matadi (10.05). With regard to athletes who use doping, Kerley said: “They have to try harder, train a little harder. Put in a little more effort.”
The event went differently for the two German starters. Swimmer Marius Kusch won the 100 m butterfly with a personal best time of 51.28 seconds. The 33-year-old ended his career in 2024 and returned for the Enhanced Games. The prize money may have played a role: the organizers are paying out a total of $25 million – up to $1 million for breaking world records and $250,000 for victories. Track and field athlete Mike Bryan (33) took last place in the 100 m.
