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569 Brett Fraser- Sports WITHOUT drug testing

·59 min·5 clips

Brett Fraser confirms transgender athletes will compete in the Enhanced Games, challenging traditional sports norms.

This episode features host Eddie Ift interviewing Brett Fraser, a three-time Olympic swimmer and Chief Athletes Officer for the Enhanced Games. Fraser represented the Cayman Islands in the 2008, 2012, and 2020 Olympics, specializing in sprint freestyle and backstroke events. The Enhanced Games is a planned annual sporting event with no drug testing, founded by Aaron D'Souza. The competition will feature five disciplines: track and field, swimming, gymnastics, weightlifting, and combat sports like MMA. Fraser explains the model includes a dedicated campus, athlete equity in the company, and compensation from media and ticket sales. The event is self-funded initially, aiming to raise single-digit millions in a seed round and double-digit millions in a Series A. Fraser clarifies that while all enhancements are allowed, athletes must have their programs approved by doctors for safety. The first games are tentatively scheduled for December 2024, likely as an exhibition focusing on fast, high-octane events like the 50m freestyle and 100m dash. A surprising claim is that natural athletes will also be allowed to compete in the Enhanced Games, despite the branding. Fraser argues the current Olympic model has misaligned incentives, where athletes dedicate their lives but often don't receive fair financial rewards or post-career support. The concept responds to the widespread, often unchecked use of PEDs in sports like track and field and weightlifting, which Ift notes can shave three-tenths of a second off a 100m dash time. Ift shares an anecdote about a Major League Baseball player who used PEDs to hit the ball 30-40 yards farther, feeling compelled to compete with athletes from impoverished backgrounds. The discussion touches on transgender inclusion, with Fraser stating the games will be inclusive with traditional and contemporary categories. The tone is a casual, exploratory conversation between Ift and Fraser, blending personal anecdotes with analysis of sports business. Ift's style is comedic and opinionated, often digressing with stories from his own experiences in track and comedy. This episode is ideal for listeners interested in sports ethics, the business of athletics, or the science and culture of performance enhancement. Fans of debates on fairness in competition and the future of sports will find it compelling. Those opposed to performance-enhancing drugs on principle or seeking a strictly formal interview might want to skip it.

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