Fresh off the factory floor, Enhanced Games hasn’t even hosted its first edition yet, but it’s already weathering a storm. With more athletes following Fred Kerley’s lead and betting their futures on the controversial league, WADA chief Witold Banka is stunned. He’s now made a pointed plea to his U.S. counterpart: “We really want our colleagues from the U.S. to do more to make sure that this event will not happen.” A statement that walks the tightrope of diplomacy, but how does USADA feel?

Their response isn’t aimed at Enhanced Games; it’s a blunt rebuke of WADA itself. WADA issued a straightforward warning against letting the games proceed in Las Vegas. In their effort, they quietly employed a strategic diplomatic approach, stating, “There are some legal possibilities they can lobby for. USADA has made general comments, but maybe it’s time to try to convince the people who have financed this that it’s dangerous. That’s their role and responsibility because the event is going to take place in Las Vegas.”

It seems USADA bristled at WADA placing the full burden on them, especially considering that the U.S. had frozen its $3.6 million contribution to the global watchdog earlier this year, following revelations that WADA had cleared 23 Chinese swimmers to compete at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics despite testing positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine (TMZ).

USADA chief Travis Tygart fired back at WADA, in a response issued via USADA’s Director of Communications, Averi Walker, “For an organization reportedly part of a criminal investigation by US law enforcement, the continued and blatantly false attacks from WADA President Banka are a telling smokescreen. His attempts to smear America and our U.S. Olympic and professional athletes are a desperate attempt to divert attention away from his failure in allowing China to sweep 23 positive tests under the carpet [in 2021]”

He further added, “This abject failure potentially robbed the world’s clean athletes of 96 medals, including 18 (14 gold) US swimming medals, from the 2021 and 2024 Olympic Games. Those who value clean and fair sport should stand up and demand that WADA be fixed.” Regarding the Enhanced Games, Tygart clarified that USADA is focused on working with FIFA and the International Testing Agency to ensure that next summer’s World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games remain completely clean.

Tygart further added in an interview with DW Sports that there was nothing USADA or the U.S. government could do to halt the Enhanced Games as long as the other applicable rules and laws were abided by.

And, since their athletes aren’t participating in the Enhanced Games, it’s simply not a concern for them.“The Enhanced Games have nothing to do with our athletes, the World Cup, or the Olympics, and President Banka knows this,” said Tygart. With USADA unable to take any action against Enhanced Games, the event has received a lifeline, but how long? Carl Lewis has the answer to it.

Carl Lewis explained the fate of Enhanced Games

At New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium last month, Carl Lewis was asked about the Enhanced Games and about the fact that top athletes are joining the league. Upon hearing the question, the legendary sprinter didn’t mince his words, framing the matter not as a mere sporting controversy but as a reflection of a wider cultural decay amplified by social media. “So much of the world depends on what’s fake… I think that the bigger issue is we have to be realistic and honest about what we’re doing,” Lewis stated.

“The reason why we can even talk about whatever those games–Enhanced Games– is because people have been talking about it for years. ‘Oh, let everyone take what they want.’ And the world just shuts them down. But now we’re in a world where, ‘Oh, it doesn’t really matter as long as I’m famous,’” he continued, impassioned. Lewis believes that Enhanced Games is not an anomaly but a deeper cultural decay, where authenticity is often sacrificed for a fleeting taste of fame

“So you see what I’m saying? So it’s not really about sports. It’s about culture. The culture now is you allow fake things to be important. And you allow someone on a TV show to become president one day because they think you’re good because of a TV show. So I think it’s a bigger cultural issue than just a sports issue,” he explained. With Carl Lewis outright denying any support to the game, and with other agencies giving statements against the league, how long will it sustain? Only time will tell.