First Jamaican signs up for controversial Enhanced Games

In a groundbreaking development that challenges conventional sporting ethics, Jamaican sprinter Shockoria Wallace has made history as the first athlete from her nation to align with the controversial Enhanced Games. The 32-year-old MVP Track Club competitor, recognized for her performances in 100m, 60m, and 4×100m events, brings a season’s best of 7.66 seconds in the 60m dash to this unconventional competition.

Wallace’s athletic credentials include clinching victory in the 100m at the 2022 Velocity Fest Meet at Jamaica’s National Stadium with a time of 11.55 seconds. The Enhanced Games organization, announcing her participation on Monday, highlighted her status as a “consistent national finalist (2021–24) in one of the world’s deepest sprinting nations.”

The Enhanced Games, scheduled to debut in Las Vegas later this year, represents a radical departure from traditional athletic competitions by explicitly permitting performance-enhancing substances. The organization positions itself as an elite sports competition and performance products company dedicated to optimizing health, performance, and recovery through scientific advancement.

This controversial venture has drawn significant opposition from established sporting bodies. World Athletics and World Aquatics have publicly condemned the games, citing serious concerns about athlete welfare and competitive integrity. In response, World Aquatics implemented a 2025 bylaw prohibiting participation in events that “embrace the use of scientific advancements or other practices that may include prohibited substances and/or prohibited methods.”

Wallace joins an international cohort of sprinters including Taylor Anderson, Marvin Bracy-Williams (United States), Mike Bryan (Germany), Clarence Munyai (South Africa), and Reece Prescod (United Kingdom) who have committed to the games. The Enhanced Games promises substantial financial incentives, particularly for record-breaking performances, creating a complex landscape where athletic achievement, scientific enhancement, and traditional sporting values intersect.