"This event seeks to promote the use of powerful substances and methods by athletes," Wada stated, warning that athletes have suffered serious long-term side effects and even death from these substances.
Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics, expressed strong disdain for the competition and warned of severe consequences for participants.
"It’s bollocks isn’t it?" Coe said.
"I can’t really get excited about it.
There’s only one message, and that is if anybody is moronic enough to officially take part in it, and they are in the traditional part of our sport, they’ll get banned for a long time.
But I really don’t get sleepless nights about it."
Travis Tygart, CEO of the US Anti-Doping Agency, was equally critical of the event.
"This is a dangerous clown show, not real sport," Tygart said.
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Organizers frame the event as a global movement for scientific insight and innovation, but they also intend to launch and sell a commercial range of performance-enhancing drugs, supplements, testosterone, and peptides.
