Reece Prescod, a former Olympic sprinter for Team GB, has signed up to compete in the Enhanced Games, a competition that allows athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs.
The 29-year-old from London will race the 100-meter sprint in Las Vegas this May, marking a major comeback after retiring last August due to ongoing hamstring problems.
“I’m very excited to join the sprinting field and compete in the inaugural Enhanced Games,” Prescod said. “The Enhanced medical team is top-tier and has prioritised my safety and well-being from the start. Enhanced has provided me with life-changing medical supervision, exceptional training support, and a fantastic compensation model.”
Prescod broke onto the British sprinting scene in 2017 when he won the national trials. The following year, he earned a silver medal at the European Championships and became one of just a few British sprinters to break the ten-second barrier in the 100m, accomplishing this feat four times during his career.
His career faced serious challenges when hamstring injuries disrupted his training for three years. During this difficult period, Prescod even considered leaving athletics entirely to work as an estate agent.
But Prescod kept going and made his Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games in 2021, though he was disqualified after a false start in the semi-finals. In 2022, he recorded his personal best time of 9.93 seconds, making him the fourth-fastest British sprinter of all time. That same year, he helped Team GB win bronze in the 4x100m relay at the World Championships.
Jack Buckner, chief executive of UK Athletics, responded strongly to Prescod’s decision. “As a former athlete, I find this particularly appalling,” Buckner said. “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 offers significant financial rewards to competitors, including appearance fees and prize money up to $250,000 per event. Athletes who break the 100m world record can earn a bonus of $1 million.
Prescod joins the competition, which will also feature Fred Kerley, a two-time Olympic 100m medalist, among other international track athletes. Taylor Anderson, Marvin Bracy, and Mike Bryan, have also been confirmed for the event. U.S. Indoor Championships Gold Medalist Shania Collins will also feature at the Enhanced Games, which is backed by several high-profile investors and is scheduled to debut in Las Vegas this May.
