Thu, June 05, 2025
World Aquatics becomes first international federation to expel athletes involved in Enhanced Games
World Aquatics has announced that it will expel athletes, coaches and officials from elite competition if they choose to involve themselves in the privately funded 2026 Enhanced Games set to take place in Las Vegas because the governing body does not wish to align itself with the promotion of banned performance-enhancing drugs in any way.
The Enhanced Games threatens sport integrity and athlete safety as the athletes involved may follow personalised pharmaceutical regimes or participate in clinical trials using FDA-designated “Investigational Medicinal Products,” according to The Guardian.
The president of World Aquatics, Husain al-Musallam, voiced that anyone who “supports, endorses, or participates in sporting events that embrace the use of scientific advancements or other practices that may include prohibited substances and/or prohibited methods” will be barred from World Aquatics’ competitions. This not only includes athletes, but also coaches, administrators and medical staff.
He unequivocally stated that: “Those who enable doped sport are not welcome at World Aquatics or our events.”
The creator of the Enhanced Games, Aron D’Souza, who advocates “superhumanity” has successfully enticed athletes such as Australian swimmer and three-time Olympic medallist James Magnussen with prize money of up to $500,000 per event, including $1 million bonuses for breaking world records in the 100m sprint or 50m freestyle.
D’Souza advocates that the Enhanced Games “are creating a new category of human excellence. A world where performance-enhancing drugs are used safely, openly, and under medical supervision.”
He referred to the global anti-doping regulations as “outdated and hypocritical,” and has gone as far as to say that he would take legal action against World Aquatics “in the case of any challenge,” according to BBC Sport.
The Enhanced Games is backed financially by 1789 Capital, a company co-founded by Donald Trump Jr, Peter Thiel’s Apeiron Investment Group, and hedge fund Karatage.
Travis Tygart, CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, highlighted the irresponsibility tied to the Enhanced Games: “It’s a dangerous clown show, not real sport.”
The World Anti-Doping Agency expressed: “As we have seen through history, performance-enhancing drugs have taken a terrible physical and mental toll on many athletes. Some have died. Clearly this event would jeopardize [athletes’ health and well-being] by promoting the abuse of powerful substances and methods that should only be prescribed, if at all, for specific therapeutic needs,” as reported by The Guardian.
World Aquatics has encouraged associations to “adopt similar policies at the national level to uphold consistent standards across the sport.”
