The U.S. military is considering giving its elite special operations soldiers performance-enhancing drugs as officials strive to give them any edge they can get.
Defense News reported all options are on the table, including basic supplements to substances that are illegal in the sports world.
"If there are . . . different ways of training, different ways of acquiring performance that are non-material, that's preferred, but in a lot of cases we've exhausted those areas," Ben Chitty, a senior project manager at U.S. Special Operations Command, told Defense News.
Researchers are trying to come up with ways for soldiers to perform at maximum level after not eating or drinking for several hours, for example, Chitty told the website. He said having soldiers take performance-enhancing drugs is an option, although there are hurdles to clear.
"For performance enhancing drugs, we'll have to look at the makeup and safety in consultation with our surgeon and the medical folks before making any decisions on it," he said.
"We're not cutting any corners."
The military is always striving to help its soldiers become better equipped on the battlefield. The Iron Man suit, an exoskeleton with body armor and high-tech features built in, will be tested by next summer.
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