Hafthor Bjornsson says Enhanced Games rules forced him to change his PED plan before his latest deadlift world-record push.
In a June 25, 2026 Instagram video shared by Unfiltered, Bjornsson said he initially expected the event to allow broader performance-enhancing drug use because Enhanced Games is built around open enhancement. He said that changed after discussions with his agent and event representatives.
“When I first signed up with Enhanced Games, I thought, it’s Enhanced Games, I can use whatever I want, great. But then actually, after speaking to my agent and speaking to the people, I realized that only FDA-approved substances are allowed. So I actually had to change that model a bit, because I was using substances before that weren’t FDA-approved.”
Bjornsson said he later learned competitors had to stay within a policy built around substances the event considered FDA-approved. That meant changing his planned protocol before stepping onto the platform.
“In the past, I took substances like Dianabol. I have used substances like trenbolone that’s not allowed, Equipoise that’s not allowed. So these are the main substances that I have used in the past that are not allowed here at Enhanced Games.”
Key Details From Thor’s Comments
- Protocol he discussed: testosterone, Deca-Durabolin, Anadrol, and a small amount of Halotestin.
- Compounds he said were not allowed: Dianabol, trenbolone, and Equipoise.
- Event policy he described: competitors were limited to substances Enhanced Games considered FDA-approved.
Bjornsson said he had used some compounds in the past that did not fit the event’s policy. The key takeaway is straightforward: Enhanced Games allowed PED use, but Bjornsson said it was not unrestricted.
The comments connect directly to Bjornsson’s deadlift chase. At the 2026 Enhanced Games Deadlift Showdown, he opened with 425 kg (936.9 lb), moved to 475 kg (1,047.2 lb), and then attempted 515 kg (1,135.4 lb).
The 515-kg attempt broke from the floor but did not reach lockout. His 510-kg (1,124.4-lb) deadlift world record remains the all-time mark.
Bjornsson is expected back on July 11, 2026, in Los Angeles for Enhanced Breakers, where he is aiming to take another shot at the deadlift world record. His recent build-up has included a 485-kg training pull, the missed 515-kg attempt at the 2026 Enhanced Games, and a follow-up from Bjornsson and his coach after the record attempt came up short.
Bjornsson was born on November 26, 1988, in Reykjavik, Iceland. Before strongman, he played basketball as a center and represented Iceland at youth international level. A persistent ankle injury ended his basketball path as a teenager.
He later moved into strongman and became one of the most decorated strength athletes in history. His documented career includes 32 international titles, 60 total wins, 87 podiums, and 130 world records.
His defining season came in 2018, when he won World’s Strongest Man, Europe’s Strongest Man, and the Arnold Strongman Classic in the same calendar year. He remains the only athlete to complete that trio in one season.
Bjornsson’s major achievements also include three Arnold Strongman Classic titles, five Europe’s Strongest Man titles, multiple Giants Live wins, twelve Iceland’s Strongest Man titles, and the all-time deadlift record at 510 kg.
What Thor Is Doing Now
After time away from full strongman competition for boxing and powerlifting, Bjornsson returned to the sport in 2024. He rebuilt around heavy deadlifts, stones, and strongman events while recovering from a serious pectoral injury.
In 2025, he pulled 505 kg (1,113 lb) at the Eisenhart Black Deadlift Championships, then raised the all-time deadlift record to 510 kg (1,124 lb) at the 2025 World Deadlift Championships in Birmingham, England.
His next target is clear: 515 kg. The Enhanced Games miss did not end the chase; it set up another major attempt.
The Enhanced Games held its first event on May 24, 2026, in Las Vegas, with swimming, athletics, and weightlifting included. The event does not follow the World Anti-Doping Agency model and has promoted a medically supervised approach to performance enhancement.
Critics continue to raise health and ethics concerns, while supporters argue that open rules create more transparency. Bjornsson’s comments add one specific detail to that debate: the event allowed enhancement, but according to Thor, it still had limits.
