WE confess to being more than a little intrigued by the decision of sports-minded investors to organise the so-called Enhanced Games set for Las Vegas in May.

As we understand it, organisers who have pledged rich financial rewards will permit the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Athletes will apparently be free to ingest whatever they may see fit, and — in theory — no one will know the difference since there will be no prior- or post-competition testing.

Only a few of the globe’s top athletes have so far indicated they will be part of the Enhanced Games — which may well be a worry for investors.

One Jamaican, little-known sprinter, 32-year-old Ms Shockoria Wallace, a former MVP Track and Field Club athlete with a personal best of 11.09 seconds over 100 metres, has reportedly committed to the Enhanced Games.

“…I am so grateful for the opportunity to be working with them [Enhanced Games organisers]…” she has been reported as saying.

And further that, “I, Shockoria Wallace, will be racing down that track to break the world record and win a grand prize of US$1 million. I am excited.”

In reality, of course, world records, or any other record, set at these Games in May won’t have recognition in traditional global sport, outlawed as it has been by mainstream sports’ organisations.

As expected, and as has been reported by this newspaper, leading local stakeholders have denounced the Enhanced Games.

None more so than Sports Minister Ms Olivia “Babsy” Grange, who made it clear at this week’s Jamaica Anti-Doping annual symposium that Jamaica supports “clean sport” not “enhanced performances”.

We can’t argue with her assertion that everyone should see “ ‘clean sport’ as more than a regulatory issue”.

She framed it in the context of “national character… tied to our national development”.

Ms Grange argued that, “integrity, fairness, and discipline must be seen as central to who we are as a people and must be reflected in every aspect of our sporting culture”.

Jamaica’s enviable global reputation in sport and otherwise would be at risk should our athletes fall prey to inducements such as are being offered by the Enhanced Games, she seemed to suggest.

A long-standing argument against the use of enhanced substances in sport is the risk to personal health.

We note that, without giving specific details, medical doctor and former president of the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) — precursor to Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association — Dr Warren Blake has said that, “[P]art of the reason why drugs have been banned is because they do harm to the body…”

Sadly, as he also pointed out in a recent interview with this newspaper, some athletes seeking “quick glory and quick money” do not consider the harm they may be doing to themselves.

Clearly, moral suasion is absolutely essential in this drive to have athletes eschew illegal enhancing substances.

But also, no stone should be left unturned by medical professionals, sport administrators, coaches, et al, in getting the message across that such substances can seriously undermine human health.

It’s a message that should consistently target the general public since not just athletes, but their loved ones, including relatives and friends, also need to know.