KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican track athlete Denae McFarlane has officially committed to participate in the inaugural Enhanced Games, marking the second Jamaican competitor to join the controversial sporting event scheduled for May 24 in Las Vegas. McFarlane’s participation was confirmed through the Games’ official Instagram announcement, which revealed five new athletes across track and field and swimming disciplines.
The Enhanced Games, which openly permits athletes to use performance-enhancing substances, has generated significant controversy within the international sports community. McFarlane joins fellow Jamaican sprinter Shockoria Wallace, who became the nation’s first athlete to sign with the competition several weeks prior.
Notable additions to the roster include Guyanese track athlete Jasmine Abrams and swimmers Antani Ivanov (Bulgaria), Miguel De Lara Ojeda (Mexico), and Emily Barclay (Great Britain). The event will be hosted at Resorts World Las Vegas, with organizers promising substantial financial incentives, including world record bonuses reaching $1 million.
The competition’s radical approach to doping has drawn vehement opposition from major sporting bodies including World Athletics and World Aquatics. These organizations have implemented bylaws prohibiting athletes who participate in unsanctioned events that permit banned substances from competing in their officially recognized competitions. The Enhanced Games positions itself as an elite sports competition and performance products company, challenging conventional anti-doping protocols that govern traditional athletic competitions.