In a stunning escalation of the conflict over sports ethics, the founders of the Enhanced Games—an Olympic-style competition that openly permits performance-enhancing drugs—have filed an $800 million antitrust lawsuit against some of the world’s most powerful sporting bodies. The lawsuit, filed in a U.S. federal court, targets the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), World Aquatics, and USA Swimming, accusing them of an illegal campaign to “crush” the event and coerce athletes into boycotting it through threats of lifetime bans.
The lawsuit is a direct response to a new rule adopted by World Aquatics that threatens to ban any athlete or support personnel who competes in or endorses the Enhanced Games. The CEO of the Enhanced Games, Aron D’Souza, has labeled this rule a “thinly veiled attempt to strong-arm the swimming community” and argues that it is causing “irreparable harm” to his ability to attract competitors. The legal filing highlights the significant financial disparity between the two competitions, noting that while World Aquatics distributed $7.1 million in prize money to 319 swimmers in 2024, the Enhanced Games is offering a potential prize purse of $7.5 million for a single day of competition in Las Vegas in May 2026.
Despite the controversy, the Enhanced Games are already set to feature a number of high-profile athletes. Former Australian Olympic swimmer James Magnussen has publicly committed to competing. In a recent preview, Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev, a finalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, reportedly broke two world records in time trials after taking performance-enhancing drugs, earning him a staggering $1 million from the organization.
The philosophical divide between the two sides could not be greater. Traditional sports bodies like WADA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) condemn the event as a “dangerous and irresponsible concept” that makes a “mockery” of fair play. They stress that the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) is unsafe and can lead to severe health risks, a concern echoed by many medical professionals.
In contrast, the Enhanced Games champions a philosophy of “human enhancement,” arguing that athletes should have the right to choose what they do with their own bodies. The event plans to monitor athletes with a state-of-the-art medical team, but will not test for banned substances. The founders are betting that the promise of record-breaking performances and immense financial rewards will ultimately win over athletes and viewers, challenging the very foundation of the Olympic movement and the concept of “clean” sport.
