Amateur Cycling Scene Sees Rising Doping Cases Across Multiple Countries

Doping continues to be a major issue across various levels of sport, from amateur cycling events like Gran Fondos, where doping is widespread and largely undetected due to high testing costs, to elite track and field competitions. High-profile cases such as US sprinter Erriyon Knighton's four-year ban and Ethiopian runner Diribe Welteji's provisional suspension ahead of the World Athletics Championships highlight ongoing anti-doping enforcement. Meanwhile, the emergence of the Enhanced Games, a new competition that legalizes performance-enhancing drugs, has attracted notable athletes including British swimmer Ben Proud, who has chosen to compete there despite the condemnation from global governing bodies such as World Aquatics and the World Anti-Doping Agency. The Enhanced Games, founded by Aron D’Souza and funded by investors like Donald Trump Jr., offer lucrative prizes but present ethical and health challenges, leading governing bodies to ban participants from traditional competitions. This evolving landscape underscores the tension between anti-doping efforts and athletes seeking alternative pathways, raising complex questions about the future of sports integrity and athlete welfare.