Cody Miller, the U.S. Olympic swimming champion, is set to compete at the Enhanced Games next summer.
The 33-year-old medalist will be allowed to use performance-enhancing substances during the Las Vegas event slated for May 2026.
Miller contributed to the United States’ gold-medal victory in the men’s 4 × 100 metre medley relay at the 2016 Rio Olympics, joining forces with legendary swimmer Michael Phelps. He also earned an individual bronze in the 100m breaststroke, and previously held American records in long-course 100m breaststroke as well as short-course 200m, 100m, and 50m breaststroke events.
He becomes the ninth swimmer to sign with the Games, which offer a $1 million prize for a world record in the 50m freestyle and $250,000 for the winner of any other individual event.
(Laura Miller pictured at the Rio Olympics: Gabriel Bouys/AFP via Getty Images)
The move has drawn sharp criticism from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which stated in May that Enhanced Games undermine athlete safety and the core values of sport, due to permitting banned-substance use and for promoting testosterone boosters on its site. Earlier this year, USADA chief Travis Tygart described the event as a “clown show” and not genuine sport, while Aquatics GB questioned its credibility after swimmer Ben Proud joined in September.
“I’m thrilled to join the field and compete at the Enhanced Games,” Miller said in a press release. “Athletes in our sport deserve to be treated as true professionals. That begins with prioritizing safety and well-being, and I’m confident Enhanced’s transparent, medically supported framework does exactly that. I believe in their vision: delivering the strongest possible support to athletes.”
Miller is the fourth American to enter the competition, following Fred Kerley (athletics), Megan Romano (swimming), and Wesley Kitts (weightlifting).
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