Doping is allowed: Russian swimmer Somov will compete for $1 million in Vegas
Yevgeny Somov, the only Russian swimmer at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, has announced his transition to a new competition format. The athlete will participate in the Enhanced Games in Las Vegas. This tournament has been described as a “Olympics on steroids” in the world of sports.
The main feature of this tournament is the full legalization of doping. The organizers are aiming for extreme results and shows, offering athletes unprecedented financial incentives. The prize money for winning a medal is $250,000, while the winner of the world record will receive up to $1 million.
For Somov, this is an opportunity to monetize his talent beyond the traditional Olympic framework. His achievements include being a European youth champion, five NCAA championships, and a semi-final appearance in the 100-meter breaststroke event at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The athlete himself calls participating in the Enhanced Games “a new step” forward. He emphasizes that the project offers “more shows”. However, his decision wasn’t supported by his home country. The Russian Swimming Federation officially disqualified him from participating in the tournament, where banned substances are allowed.