Enhanced Games pays out $1M for record broken amid permitted drug use

The record books survived the Enhanced Games. With the exception of one event and a giant asterisk, that is.

The multi-sport event that gained notoriety by allowing the athletes competing to take banned drugs held its inaugural event May 24 in Las Vegas.

One world record fell.

Kristian Gkolomeev, a 32-year-old swimmer from Bulgaria, won the 50-meter freestyle in 20.81 seconds. That beat the existing record of 20.88 seconds, which remains the official record because, well, the Enhanced Games allowed banned drugs.

Gkolomeev received a $1 million bonus on top of $250,000 for winning the event while using banned drugs and a polyurethane "super-suits" banned in 2010, according to The Guardian and Yahoo Sports.

But apparently there weren’t enough PEDs to threaten Usain Bolt’s legendary record in the 100 meters.

Fred Kerley, a silver medalist in the 100m at the 2020 Olympics and a bronze medalist in the 100m at the 2024 Games, said before the race that Bolt’s record of 9.58 would get “destroyed,’’ according to the Associated Press.

Kerley ended up winning the event at the Enhanced Games, but in 9.97 seconds.

Kerley, the 31-year-old American, reportedly said he did not used banned drugs during the multi-sport event held at a stadium built on the Las Vegas Strip. Despite his underwhelming performance, he still got $250,000 for winning the race.

Donald Trump Jr. and billionaire Peter Thiel are among those who have provided backing for Enhanced Games, which was founded in 2023.

There were 10 events and clean athletes won three, according to The Guardian.