1 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: It's just before midnight on February twenty eighth, twenty twenty six. 2 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:17,759 Speaker 1: The enhanced athletes are staying at a hotel in Abu 3 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:21,439 Speaker 1: Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. That's where they're spending 4 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,440 Speaker 1: the months leading up to the games training and taking 5 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 1: their performance enhancing drugs. The first time the alarms go off, 6 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 1: Megan Romano's up in her room with her girlfriend. 7 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 2: It wasn't night when it started, like when shit hit 8 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:34,960 Speaker 2: the fan. 9 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 3: It was definitely at night. 10 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 2: You get like this alarm and it sounds like crazy loud. 11 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 4: It's like Ray. 12 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 1: Ray Ray Ben Proud and his girlfriend, Emily Barclay, she's 13 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: also a swimmer with enhanced They just wrapped around in 14 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: medical testing at a nearby hospital, just walked back into 15 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: the hotel. 16 00:00:56,440 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 5: Suddenly this really aggressive alarm goes off on off phone, 17 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 5: and then two seconds later we hear these pops outside 18 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 5: just outside a window, and we opened the curtains and 19 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:11,040 Speaker 5: there's these lines of smoke going up into this little 20 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 5: ball of ball of smoke right in front of that window. 21 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 5: So we checked the news and saw that UAE was 22 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 5: you know, had been fired up by Iran. 23 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 1: Earlier that day. The United States and Israel conducted their 24 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 1: first round of military strikes against Iran. Hours later, Irun 25 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: launched retaliatory missiles at various US allies in the Middle East. 26 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:38,319 Speaker 4: The Ministry of Defense of the UAE says the United 27 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 4: Emirates was subjected today to a brazen attack with Iranian 28 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:43,319 Speaker 4: ballistic missiles. 29 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:46,679 Speaker 6: This is an unprecedented attack by Iran on what it 30 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 6: says are US military targets across Gulf nations. 31 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 5: So basically where I am when my hotel room is 32 00:01:55,880 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 5: if you look out straight about ten out this way 33 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 5: is the US Al Dafra base, which is where these 34 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 5: rockets are heading to. And so we are literally just 35 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:10,960 Speaker 5: caught in the crossfires of whatever's going on. And then 36 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 5: that's curious as we look out the window and we 37 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:16,079 Speaker 5: see these three rockets just launch from across the water here, 38 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 5: and that sets the panic. And so at that point 39 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 5: we get ourselves into bathroom, we hunker down for a bit, 40 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 5: and we just ye, we let our bodies settle. 41 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 2: I'm from Florida, so I've been through like crazy thunderstorms. 42 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 2: It just sounds like the loudest thunder I think I've 43 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:44,639 Speaker 2: ever heard. We're like the windows were shat like shaking. 44 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,359 Speaker 2: It sounded like the missile like landed on my balcony. 45 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 1: At least one of the enhanced athletes, Andregovov from Ukraine, 46 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 1: he's got plenty of experience with war, so other athletes 47 00:02:57,040 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: been included. They turn it him. 48 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 5: We kind of stick Andre and we're just trusting what 49 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 5: he says, and he kind of knows how to handle it. 50 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 1: What was Andrea's like sort of advice to you. 51 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:11,079 Speaker 5: You know, finding the hard concrete walls and places away 52 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 5: from windows, you know, no glass around you. He was 53 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 5: basically scouting this hotel to find safe places. He was, 54 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:23,240 Speaker 5: you know, telling us to keep our passports in hand 55 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:28,920 Speaker 5: just in case of evacuations. And he gave us money, 56 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 5: you know, just in case. 57 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 1: Specifically, Andrea's handing out us dollars he knows in active 58 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 1: war zones, as infrastructure collapses, digital transfers stop processing. Same 59 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 1: goes for ATMs in situations like this, the more cash 60 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 1: you got, the safer you are. 61 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 2: I just hope it doesn't get worse, because like I'm 62 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 2: getting woken up every night on the dot. I don't 63 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 2: know what it is with Iran, but like they're like 64 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 2: at four point thirty on the Dot and then like 65 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 2: seven and the boom are getting louder. And that's the 66 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 2: thing too, is like if we're on these enhancements, like 67 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 2: it doesn't matter if we're on enhancements. If we're not 68 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 2: getting proper sleep. 69 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: From Kaleidoscope and iHeart podcasts, this is superhuman. I'm Chris 70 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:24,919 Speaker 1: guy Amali. A month before those first missile strikes, I 71 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 1: visited the enhanced athletes in Abu Dhabi. They're staying at 72 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:31,359 Speaker 1: what used to be a recreational military base for the 73 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: UAE Armed Forces. These days, it's a luxury hotel called 74 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 1: Earth without the A. There's a big fancy gym, but 75 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 1: the enhanced weightlifting team is working out in a small 76 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:46,159 Speaker 1: converted weighting area where weight stations are set up. I 77 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 1: think they're listening to Bad Bunny right now. And for 78 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: the swimmers, of course a pool. Andre and Ben are 79 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 1: in the water yacking at the other side of the pool. 80 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 1: Ben looks it's much bigger than last time. There's a 81 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 1: huge fancy cafeteria here, also a private beach, paddle courts, 82 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 1: and an enormous soccer pitch. The guy who designed Earth 83 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 1: wanted it to resemble a falcon in flight, and weirdly, 84 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:19,600 Speaker 1: it absolutely does. Most of the Enhanced team was living 85 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: and training there, just a twenty minute drive from the 86 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 1: medical facility where the athletes got their drugs and were 87 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:28,719 Speaker 1: subsequently studied. One of the chief doctors overseeing the Enhanced 88 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:32,919 Speaker 1: study is doctor Guido Pilis, a cardiologist. He told me, 89 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: because athletes using performance enhancing drugs are almost always doing 90 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 1: so in secrecy, that means no doctors, no help determining 91 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 1: the right dosages, no guidance on how long to use them. 92 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:47,279 Speaker 1: For what he and Enhanced are seeking. It's like the 93 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:51,560 Speaker 1: goldilocks of these particular drugs, the perfect dosage that delivers 94 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 1: tangible results without the long term negative consequences. Why is 95 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 1: this necessary, here's doctor Pelis. 96 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 7: Firstly, it's because we have very little data. Although everyone 97 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 7: has an opinion about enhancement and athletes, this is not 98 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 7: fully backed up as signs, I have to say. But 99 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:13,720 Speaker 7: if you compare what we have in science to other areas, 100 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 7: then we haven't done our homework. And that's why really welcome. 101 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: I take his point. Why he'd want to actually study 102 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 1: how steroids work on relatively healthy populations if there's a 103 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 1: way to use them effectively and safely. We should know that, 104 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:29,920 Speaker 1: and if there is an effective dosage for healthy people, 105 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 1: we should know what that is. 106 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:33,119 Speaker 7: Drug sit will be taken. 107 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:37,120 Speaker 1: What I keep thinking about, what about the athletes competing 108 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:40,080 Speaker 1: in the Enhanced Games who aren't participating in the study. 109 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: As a rule, enhance isn't making anyone stick to a 110 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 1: particular drug regimen, Nor are they testing for which drugs 111 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 1: non participating athletes may have taken. So are the athletes 112 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 1: who are outside of it? Are you guys testing them 113 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 1: too for the stuff that's banned? No, we're not, Max 114 00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: Martin again, CEO of Enhanced. 115 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:02,479 Speaker 8: Look of the approaches. The law is the law, and 116 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 8: adults are our adults, and within what the law is 117 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:07,680 Speaker 8: an adults should be able to take a decision for 118 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 8: themselves and what they want and want not to do. 119 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 8: We are not the law enforcement agency. So similarly to 120 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 8: whether we could test them whether they are taking a 121 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 8: substance like tremblone, where do you draw the line? Right, 122 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 8: We are not going to test the athletes and whether 123 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 8: they're taking cocaine, whether they're taking you know, whether they're 124 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 8: smoking weed in a jurisdiction, whether they're not supposed to 125 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 8: be smoking weed. That is the law enforcement job. That's 126 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 8: not our job. 127 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:33,520 Speaker 1: There's something here that makes me feel I don't know nervous. 128 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: Enhances working so hard to assure us that their studies 129 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 1: the drugs are prescribing that it's all safe. But theoretically 130 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 1: anyone competing in the games could be taking anything they want, 131 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 1: whether or not they're participating in the study. Basically, enhances 132 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: relying on an honor system. 133 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 8: What we are looking to do is have the athletes 134 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 8: disclose to us and represent to us that truthfully what 135 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 8: they're taking, and then with testing them to figure out 136 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 8: whether they're healthy and safe to compete so that there's 137 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 8: no abuse of legal substances, right, because even if a 138 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 8: substance is legal, you can still abuse it to make 139 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 8: it unhealthy. 140 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 1: Something you might be wondering, why is Abu Dhabi where 141 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 1: enhancedent their athletes Anyway, I asked Max that very question 142 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 1: to start. The laws and regulations about the drug part 143 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 1: of all of this are a lot more laxed there 144 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 1: compared to the US. Plus, according to Enhanced, Abu Dhabi 145 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 1: is particularly interested in this specific study identifying the pros 146 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:37,000 Speaker 1: and cons of performance enhancing drugs. The UAE tends to 147 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 1: do this, spend a lot of money on or host big, 148 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:45,680 Speaker 1: splashy sporting events. They own more than one pro soccer team, 149 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 1: and they spend billions on huge turnout sports like UFC 150 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 1: and Formula one. The general vibe of what Enhances up 151 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 1: to totally in their bag of tricks. Labs of doctors 152 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 1: are set up in Abu Dhabi to consult directly with 153 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:02,440 Speaker 1: athletes under their drug use and track whatever side effects 154 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 1: they experience. 155 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:07,439 Speaker 8: We look at imagings of their brains, their organs, their heart, 156 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 8: We do testing of their blood. They's aliva, the urine, 157 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 8: and all of these things impact what kind of recommendation 158 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 8: athletes gets for a protocols. 159 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 1: Just a reminder the protocols, what enhance calls, each regimen 160 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:24,439 Speaker 1: for their athletes, everyone's specific cocktail of drugs. Max says. 161 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:27,079 Speaker 1: The point of collecting all this data is to help enhance, 162 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 1: package safe, and affect the programs for everyone else. The 163 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 1: people actually buy their performance enhancing drugs from them, and 164 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 1: what specifically are the drugs Megan Ben and the rest 165 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:41,760 Speaker 1: of the Enhanced crew are using. That's a million dollar question, 166 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 1: or maybe even the billion dollar question considering who Enhanced 167 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 1: investors are to be sure. At first we were told 168 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 1: no problem, we'd have total access to everything, the drugs, dosing, 169 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 1: the types of needles, all of it. Over time though, 170 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 1: they've gone bit more buttoned up. In fact, they've explicitly 171 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:06,200 Speaker 1: told the athletes they can't disclose what they're being given. 172 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 1: What Max has said is they're not trying out anything 173 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 1: new or experimental. Rather, they're working within the parameters of 174 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 1: what's already considered a performance enhancing drug to figure out basically, 175 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:22,680 Speaker 1: what are the limits of what a person can take 176 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:27,359 Speaker 1: where the good the benefits outweigh the bad the side effects. 177 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 1: He says, the drugs all fall into one of four 178 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 1: main categories. 179 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:36,440 Speaker 8: One are anabolic steroids, which includes like testosterone. Then there 180 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 8: are metabolgodulators, say for example, meldonium, which is a substance 181 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 8: that helps you with your energy efficiency and improves your endurance. 182 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 8: Then there are regulated peptides, so peptides that are already. 183 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 1: Approved approved by the FDA he means, the Food and 184 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 1: Drug Administration, not the ones that you. 185 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 8: Know people are buying from China. And then last these 186 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 8: stimulants like adoro and medefinite, etc. 187 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:01,200 Speaker 1: Okay, so a lot of drugs to help us wrap 188 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:04,240 Speaker 1: our heads around Max's four groups. My producer Sam calls 189 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:08,439 Speaker 1: up doctor Katie Rizzoni. She's in sports medicine and orthopedics, 190 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 1: specifically focused on NCUBA athletes, so college athletes plus pro 191 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 1: level and world champion athletes too. Max said, the first 192 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 1: group of drugs are steroids, and so Sam starts with 193 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 1: the basics. 194 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 9: What is a steroid? 195 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 6: Basically, a steroid is going to mimic hormonal pathways. 196 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 7: In the body. 197 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 1: Pretty quickly, the basics get a complicated, but doctor Rizzoni says, basically, 198 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:43,560 Speaker 1: it's lab made to sasterone. 199 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:43,440 Speaker 3: Got it? 200 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:43,960 Speaker 1: And what does it? 201 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:46,440 Speaker 9: What does it do to the the to the body. 202 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:51,120 Speaker 6: It's gonna make it easier to build muscle mass. Therefore 203 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:54,559 Speaker 6: you're going to be stronger. Were people using steroids in 204 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 6: those days? 205 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:55,439 Speaker 3: Oh? 206 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 1: Sure, some used them, some didn't use I mean it's 207 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:02,079 Speaker 1: very hot always did you take for example? Steroid use 208 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:05,559 Speaker 1: has historically been common in the bodybuilding community. Back in 209 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:09,439 Speaker 1: nineteen eighty five, Arnold Schwarzenegger was grilled about steroids on 210 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 1: David Letterman. 211 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:11,560 Speaker 5: Did you ever use them yourself? 212 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:11,720 Speaker 4: Oh? 213 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 1: Sure, yeah, in addition to making you stronger, doctor Riizoni says, 214 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 1: steroid seem to quicken recovery. 215 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 6: As an athlete, you could train longer and harder and 216 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:25,440 Speaker 6: that damage right. Anytime you train, you break muscle, you 217 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:28,600 Speaker 6: chair muscle, you break bone, and so it helps those 218 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:30,080 Speaker 6: to heal back faster. 219 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 1: And with millions of dollars in sponsorships, salaries, and ticket 220 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:38,120 Speaker 1: sales on the line, the faster athletes swing back, the better. 221 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:42,680 Speaker 1: So that's drug group one. Drug two on Max's list 222 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 1: metabolic modulators, basically drugs that change how your body makes, uses, 223 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:52,080 Speaker 1: or saves energy. Usually they're prescribed for people with heart 224 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 1: problems or diabetes. 225 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 6: So like athletes will give themselves insolent, like what a 226 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:02,320 Speaker 6: diabetic would you, because you're trying to get sugar or 227 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:05,719 Speaker 6: glucose into your cells so that your cells can have 228 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 6: more fuel to do things. 229 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 1: Another group on Max's list stimulants. These you probably. 230 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 6: Know things like adderall retolin. Caffeine is a stimulant. 231 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:20,679 Speaker 1: Stimulants raise your heart and breathing rate. They make you 232 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 1: feel more alert, more confident. 233 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 6: You know, there's a reason that in the eighties there 234 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:26,199 Speaker 6: was a lot of athletes ahead of cocaine. 235 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 4: Problem. 236 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 6: It's a stimulant, you know, I mean it probably does 237 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 6: enhance performance. It helps with attention, it helps with energy. 238 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 6: You probably feel less pain. You're able to push through 239 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:38,080 Speaker 6: pain barriers, or you will probably push your mental barriers. 240 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:42,839 Speaker 1: Famous example soccer player Diego Maradona, who at the nineteen 241 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:45,959 Speaker 1: to eighty four World Cup tests a positive for, among 242 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 1: other things, phaedrin. 243 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:50,839 Speaker 5: But subsequently was revealed to be a cocktail of five 244 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 5: different fan substances. 245 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:55,360 Speaker 1: For what it's worth, Maradona denied it to the end. 246 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:01,200 Speaker 4: I have given fee for the opportunity to reconsider their 247 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 4: decision because I believe it to be totally unjust. I 248 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 4: have suffered a lot on my own and I promised 249 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:15,720 Speaker 4: my daughters I would not cry. I'm not crying. 250 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 1: And finally, peptides, the kinds of peptides the athletes are using. 251 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:30,080 Speaker 1: They're supposed to help with recovery and hormone production. We 252 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 1: think we don't really know what they do, Doctor Katie Rizzoni. 253 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 6: Again, peptides are kind of like they're made up of 254 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 6: amino acids. Amino Acids are like the building blocks of proteins. 255 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 6: You need proteins to get stronger, you need proteins for recovery. 256 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 6: Proteins are essential to high performance, so theoretically they could 257 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 6: be filling in deficiencies that could help with overall performance 258 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 6: and elite athletes when they are training. Then I think 259 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 6: that's why people are interested in them, but we don't well, 260 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:01,520 Speaker 6: we haven't proven that yet. 261 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:05,280 Speaker 1: The thing about peptides, doctor Rizzoni says, they're still pretty 262 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: new on the performance enhancing scene. They're easy to get, 263 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:11,280 Speaker 1: but what they actually do, we're still working that part out. 264 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 6: They probably have influence on inflammation, cell recovery, you know, 265 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 6: muscle masks, so I don't know if they'd necessarily proven 266 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 6: then in humans yet, but those theoretically could. 267 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 1: Be the benefits either way. Most peptides are banned in 268 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 1: conventional sport, in part because using them seems unfair against 269 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 1: the spirit of sport, as IOC and WATA often say, 270 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 1: but also because we really don't know how safe they are. 271 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: After the war breaks out, our communication with the enhanced 272 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 1: athletes training in Abu Dhabi grows understandably sporadic. But what 273 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:56,040 Speaker 1: does that mean about how it's going over there. I'm 274 00:15:56,080 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 1: picturing chaos conson alerts, the rumbles and booms of an 275 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 1: in missiles. 276 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 9: But after the initial shock wears off, things for Team 277 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 9: Enhanced grow a bit well boring. Originally, the athlete's enhancement 278 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:12,200 Speaker 9: protocol was meant to last for about twelve weeks. Now 279 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:15,680 Speaker 9: that day keeps getting pushed back. No one knows exactly why, 280 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 9: and the athletes are growing antsy. Something's up, Megan Romano again. 281 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 2: And no one's really sure like what it is. We 282 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 2: don't know if we're waiting on a signature. And I 283 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 2: don't even think it's the missiles or the war that's 284 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 2: like lagging. I think is Oh, you don't think so? 285 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 3: That was my theory. 286 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 2: I don't think so, because before the war even started, 287 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 2: we were still waiting on something, Like I don't know. 288 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:41,160 Speaker 2: There's just like a lot of parts that we don't 289 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 2: know about that's happening behind the scenes. 290 00:16:43,880 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 9: Megan says. The athletes keep thinking they're about to officially 291 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 9: begin their drug protocols, but when that day comes, they 292 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 9: just don't. 293 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 2: So when they tell us now, like you're getting them 294 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 2: on Friday, you're getting them on Monday, I don't even 295 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 2: believe it. I'm like, okay, until like the needle's like 296 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 2: end my ass, Like I don't believe shit. 297 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:05,639 Speaker 9: Later, in a press conference, CEO Max Martin says the 298 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 9: delays are because of the war in part, but also 299 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:13,159 Speaker 9: he says there's just everyday bureaucracy stuff to deal with, 300 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 9: too red tape for the athletes, though it feels like 301 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:17,639 Speaker 9: it's taking forever. 302 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 5: Yeah, with all the frustration that was going on in 303 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:25,480 Speaker 5: terms of delays and waiting and you know, uncertainty, we 304 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:28,640 Speaker 5: were so focused on those emotions rather than the emotions 305 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 5: of what we're about to get into. So it kind 306 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:34,880 Speaker 5: of just it came as a big shock in terms 307 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:35,960 Speaker 5: of it came really quickly. 308 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 1: On March twelve, about two weeks after those drone strikes 309 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 1: you heard earlier in the episode, and just eight weeks 310 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:44,960 Speaker 1: before they needed to be back in the United States, 311 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:48,480 Speaker 1: the athletes find out that for real, this time, they're 312 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:52,160 Speaker 1: going to start the protocol. The next morning, it hit 313 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:53,040 Speaker 1: me like a train. 314 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:57,160 Speaker 5: I was like, shit, this is this is happening. 315 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:01,840 Speaker 1: Ben Prowd's feeling anxious. His girlfriend Emily is already asleep, 316 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 1: which means it's probably too late to reach out to 317 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:06,360 Speaker 1: any of his other teammates too. 318 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:08,439 Speaker 5: And there was no one will wait for me to 319 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 5: talk to. I just I called my brother and I 320 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:13,400 Speaker 5: was like, Oliver, I'm terrified. 321 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:16,960 Speaker 1: Oliver reminds him, it's okay. They've already talked this over, 322 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 1: prepared for this exact feeling. 323 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 5: You know, I was always going to feel like this. 324 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 5: You know, to the world, I retired in September, tenth 325 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 5: of September. But to me, I don't retire until take 326 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:32,399 Speaker 5: that injection. In reality, nothing has stopping me from turning 327 00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 5: back and going back to my normal life until I 328 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:39,719 Speaker 5: start the protocol, you know, until I inject myself as 329 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 5: something that I'm not allowed to inject with. 330 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 1: The athletes spend the next day in a waiting room 331 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:48,120 Speaker 1: at the hospital. One by one, they're caught up by name, 332 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 1: taken to another room. 333 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:52,239 Speaker 5: You go in, and about ten minutes later you come 334 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 5: back and you are an enhanced athlete. And so for 335 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:57,720 Speaker 5: every person who came back with I'd be like a 336 00:18:57,760 --> 00:19:00,600 Speaker 5: big cheer and like, you know, congratations, like a big moment. 337 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:04,600 Speaker 5: Most of them were like buzzing and excited and like, 338 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:08,040 Speaker 5: you know, this is you know, officially enhanced. You know, 339 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 5: that was the thing that everyone was saying. 340 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:13,919 Speaker 1: Ben, though he's not buzzing. For him, this moment is 341 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:16,600 Speaker 1: goodbye to his entire career in clean sport. 342 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:19,760 Speaker 5: You know, I just wanted to be, you know, not 343 00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 5: hanging my head in Shane. But I was like, I 344 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 5: just I just want to be alone with Emily, and 345 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:29,879 Speaker 5: you know, I just want to Yeah, the emotions at 346 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 5: the time, but just got the better of me. 347 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:41,320 Speaker 1: I want to stop here for a second and explain something. 348 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 1: We don't actually know what any of the enhanced athletes 349 00:19:45,119 --> 00:19:48,720 Speaker 1: are taking the details of their protocol. Sure, we know 350 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:52,399 Speaker 1: the four categories of drugs, but that's it. One of 351 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:54,359 Speaker 1: the reasons I went to Abu Dhabi in the first 352 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:57,360 Speaker 1: place was to spend time in the room where it happens. 353 00:19:57,680 --> 00:19:59,640 Speaker 1: I wanted to be with the athletes when they found 354 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:03,680 Speaker 1: out the ingredients for their individual cocktails, the specific list 355 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 1: of drugs. I wanted to see the injections, watch how 356 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:12,560 Speaker 1: it worked. And for months en Hans said, yeah, no problem. 357 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:16,439 Speaker 1: But just before I left, Enhance walked that back in 358 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:17,720 Speaker 1: an email there comms. 359 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:21,240 Speaker 9: The rector wrote, due to health privacy laws and ordinances 360 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:24,879 Speaker 9: in both the UAE and hipparegulations in the US, no 361 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 9: journalist or camera is permitted in with athletes during their 362 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:32,639 Speaker 9: doctor consultations or if they choose enhancements. Sorry, that's entirely 363 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:33,280 Speaker 9: off limits. 364 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 1: Later, the athletes were instructed by enhanced not to discuss 365 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 1: any specifics with the press either. Megan says the new 366 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:43,680 Speaker 1: rules make it harder to talk about what drugs she's 367 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:46,480 Speaker 1: doing in Abu Dhabi. She wishes she could at least 368 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:48,440 Speaker 1: say the names of the drug she's taking. 369 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 2: Not dosages, but at least like what we're taking, because 370 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:55,280 Speaker 2: it's just easier for us as athletes, because you know, 371 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:57,919 Speaker 2: that's what everyone wants to know. Of course, So I 372 00:20:57,960 --> 00:20:59,720 Speaker 2: don't know at some point if we're going to be 373 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 2: able to talk about it, but I guess like that 374 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:04,560 Speaker 2: kind of shifted recently, But. 375 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:07,000 Speaker 9: That doesn't stop us from asking anyway. Is it like 376 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:09,960 Speaker 9: going to be like an oral injected, like you know what, 377 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:11,760 Speaker 9: Like how are you going to have to take it? 378 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:19,560 Speaker 2: I feel like if I say it's going to give 379 00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:27,360 Speaker 2: it away. One one is tour wait to are injected. 380 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:28,160 Speaker 2: One's a gel. 381 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:33,720 Speaker 5: I'm on about three different substances. One one has taken 382 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:37,240 Speaker 5: every single day. It's this injection which you do yourself. 383 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 5: And typically I'll do that, you know, evenings, like after 384 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 5: the school I'm going to do it, and it's very quick. 385 00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:46,960 Speaker 5: It takes you know, two minutes to do the whole process. 386 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:51,160 Speaker 5: And then there's another injection, which we're gonna do once 387 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:58,159 Speaker 5: a week, which really stings. I really couldn't do it 388 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:00,720 Speaker 5: last week. I couldn't get a needle in. It's tiny, 389 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:03,399 Speaker 5: it's like a like an instant injection, but I just 390 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:07,320 Speaker 5: couldn't get it under my skin. I was sweating. My 391 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:11,240 Speaker 5: hands were like shining from sweat. I was so nervous. 392 00:22:11,240 --> 00:22:15,200 Speaker 5: So what so scared. Once you get over the pinprick, 393 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:20,359 Speaker 5: you don't feel that at all, but the mind just 394 00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:22,199 Speaker 5: plays tricks on you. When you have to look at 395 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:24,879 Speaker 5: this needle and look at it again, you kind of 396 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:25,560 Speaker 5: freak out a bit. 397 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:31,920 Speaker 1: A few weeks later, in April, Ben tells us he's 398 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:35,119 Speaker 1: already feeling the effects. What's the biggest change you've felt 399 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 1: in your body since beginning the protocol? Has there been 400 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:39,440 Speaker 1: anything that surprised you. 401 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:47,399 Speaker 5: I think it's the the very sudden increase in muscle mass. 402 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:52,520 Speaker 5: So the first two weeks you're kind of just waiting, 403 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:55,840 Speaker 5: nothing's changing, And then we came back into the water, 404 00:22:56,640 --> 00:23:00,840 Speaker 5: and then suddenly everyone's looking incredible, Like abs are popping, 405 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:06,160 Speaker 5: chests fall, like bicelets are big, and that came from 406 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:10,440 Speaker 5: very little work. You know, I have cut down significantly 407 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:13,080 Speaker 5: the amount of work I'm doing in the gym purely 408 00:23:13,119 --> 00:23:18,159 Speaker 5: because I'm scared to get too muscly, and I reduced 409 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:21,879 Speaker 5: it once. Still saw a huge gain in muscle mass, 410 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:24,800 Speaker 5: and so I've reduced it again just to try and 411 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:29,200 Speaker 5: maintain the current stateum in. It makes things feel easier 412 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 5: easy in training, However, there is a definite irritability, so 413 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:42,480 Speaker 5: the emotions are much higher. It's like you're angry, like 414 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:45,720 Speaker 5: like you're waiting for food and it's not coming. You're 415 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:48,480 Speaker 5: just like just agitated. 416 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:52,280 Speaker 1: The testing being done in this study it definitely scratches 417 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:57,320 Speaker 1: an itch, especially for someone like Ben who remember keeps 418 00:23:57,320 --> 00:24:00,800 Speaker 1: some meticulous spreadsheets of data on his body, his times 419 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:03,720 Speaker 1: every day, how each part of his body performs compared 420 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:06,520 Speaker 1: to yesterday and the day before that. What kind of 421 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:10,000 Speaker 1: changes have you seen in your like physiology based on 422 00:24:10,080 --> 00:24:12,240 Speaker 1: all this analysis that you're getting. 423 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:20,680 Speaker 5: I think I'm out to say so. My testosterone score 424 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 5: has gone from about four hundred, four hundred and fifty 425 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 5: to twelve hundred and ten, so it's almost tripled in 426 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:34,760 Speaker 5: a few weeks, and twelve hundred is the upper limit 427 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:37,000 Speaker 5: not upper limit. Upper threshold of what they see is 428 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:38,000 Speaker 5: the range. 429 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:41,800 Speaker 1: Here's the thing, though, A big point of this study, 430 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 1: according to Enhanced, is to try and collect good, real 431 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:48,960 Speaker 1: data on these exact side effects. And of course, it 432 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:53,359 Speaker 1: is true that this usage of performance enhancing drugs isn't 433 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:57,120 Speaker 1: very well studied. Most of what science and medicine understands 434 00:24:57,160 --> 00:25:00,040 Speaker 1: about these drugs is based on studies done on p 435 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:03,600 Speaker 1: people who have already abused them. What Enhanced wants to 436 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:07,080 Speaker 1: know what happens when folks take those same drugs safely 437 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:11,600 Speaker 1: in controlled, moderated dosages. I'm going to take off my 438 00:25:11,680 --> 00:25:14,080 Speaker 1: journalism hat for a second and replace it with my 439 00:25:14,160 --> 00:25:18,800 Speaker 1: normal dude hat, because remember, I'm someone who takes performance 440 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:23,159 Speaker 1: enhancing drugs literally. I take stuff that Enhanced also sells 441 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:26,960 Speaker 1: on their website because I'm a busy dad who just 442 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:30,760 Speaker 1: wants to get through each day. Remember what Max Martin 443 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:33,880 Speaker 1: said about who these enhancements are meant for. 444 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:36,639 Speaker 3: Am I twenty five years old and I'm training for 445 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:39,760 Speaker 3: a marathon or a sixty five years old looking to 446 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:42,040 Speaker 3: have more energy to take my grandkids to the playground 447 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:45,280 Speaker 3: and play with them. Enhancements can have me achieve both. 448 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:49,199 Speaker 1: The thing is all any of us have in common 449 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:51,720 Speaker 1: with someone like Ben Proud is that we're all on 450 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:55,959 Speaker 1: performance enhancing drugs. That's it. Certainly none of us are 451 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:58,000 Speaker 1: elite athletes trying to break a world record. 452 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:03,199 Speaker 9: We ran enhanced study by six medical professionals, including a neurologist, 453 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:07,960 Speaker 9: general practitioners, and a sports medicine doctor. Their biggest concerns 454 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:11,639 Speaker 9: were about the independence of the study. Basically, they said, 455 00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:14,360 Speaker 9: if enhanced can get rich selling the same drugs are studying, 456 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 9: doesn't that jeopardize their research? How do we know they're 457 00:26:18,119 --> 00:26:22,960 Speaker 9: not overlooking purposefully or not true red flags? And these 458 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:26,200 Speaker 9: particular test subjects some of the best athletes in the world, 459 00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:30,320 Speaker 9: how representative can they really be of everyday consumers, people 460 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:34,840 Speaker 9: like me, Chris or the hypothetical twenty five year olds 461 00:26:35,119 --> 00:26:36,399 Speaker 9: and sixty five year olds. 462 00:26:40,080 --> 00:26:42,960 Speaker 7: You're gonna do steroids that you're gonna do one cycle, 463 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:44,320 Speaker 7: you're gonna like it. 464 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:48,720 Speaker 9: One doctor we spoke with Thomas O'Connor. He's most skeptical 465 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:51,919 Speaker 9: of enhance confidence and consumers that they'd actually take these 466 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:52,840 Speaker 9: drugs and moderation. 467 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:55,920 Speaker 6: I don't care if you're a top guy, your regular 468 00:26:56,240 --> 00:27:00,640 Speaker 6: accountant guy running McDonald's I don't care what you are. 469 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:03,200 Speaker 6: You're gonna like it. You're gonna want to do more 470 00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:04,120 Speaker 6: and more and more. 471 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:08,160 Speaker 4: You're never gonna do one cycle never doesn't work that way. 472 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:11,520 Speaker 9: Something else about doctor O'Connor, he has a history of 473 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:15,639 Speaker 9: abusing steroids himself, and he's very open about it, meaning 474 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:16,800 Speaker 9: he would know. 475 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:20,400 Speaker 8: What happens is men take steroids. 476 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:23,000 Speaker 4: They take a little bit, like they always say they're 477 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:24,280 Speaker 4: going to do this minimal dose. 478 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:28,040 Speaker 3: That's bullshit right there, that's one hundred percent bullshit. 479 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:31,760 Speaker 9: We want to hear from those men, those people themselves, 480 00:27:32,359 --> 00:27:35,080 Speaker 9: the twenty five and sixty five year olds, the normy's 481 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:38,400 Speaker 9: already taking the kinds of drugs enhanced to selling. How 482 00:27:38,440 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 9: prone are they at a planing it's safe. How much 483 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:48,360 Speaker 9: does safety factor into their decision making at all? That's 484 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:49,800 Speaker 9: next time on Superhuman. 485 00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:58,240 Speaker 1: Superhuman is a Kaleidoscope production in partnership with iHeart Podcasts. 486 00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:02,600 Speaker 1: The series is reported and co hosted by Sam Egan. 487 00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:07,400 Speaker 1: Dina Mesizi's Medal is our senior producer. Production support from 488 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:12,439 Speaker 1: Dara Luk Potts, Edited by Kate Osborne, Editorial consulting by 489 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:17,560 Speaker 1: Adiza Egan. Original composition by Hannis Brown, mixing by Eric 490 00:28:17,600 --> 00:28:21,479 Speaker 1: Maszi's Menal, reported and hosted by me Chris guy Amali 491 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:26,639 Speaker 1: from Kaleidoscope. Our executive producers are Kate Osborne, Ozwa Loshin, 492 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:31,280 Speaker 1: Mangeshati Kador and Kosislinos. Julia Nutter is the head of 493 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:35,520 Speaker 1: Studio for Kaleidoscope and From My Heart. Our executive produces 494 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:40,200 Speaker 1: are Katrina Norval and Nikki Etor. If you like what 495 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:42,880 Speaker 1: you're hearing, subscribe to the feed now so you don't 496 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:43,720 Speaker 1: miss our next drop.