The Chemical Edge: The Science and Cost of Steroids

For generations, elite sports have drawn a hard line between natural ability and chemical enhancement. But a new competition is challenging that boundary entirely. In this episode, we explore the controversial rise of the Enhanced Games—a sporting event built around the idea that athletes should be allowed to use performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision. Tracing the science behind anabolic steroids and other substances, we examine how these compounds dramatically increase muscle mass, strength, and endurance, while also carrying profound risks to the heart, hormones, and long-term health. From the pursuit of records to the ethics of engineered performance, the story reveals a growing tension between human limitation and technological ambition—where the desire to push the body further may come at a cost far beyond the competition itself.https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2026/05/15/how-well-do-anabolic-steroids-work