The Enhanced Games, which seeks to allow athletes to compete in Olympic sports without drug testing, has filed an $800 million antitrust lawsuit against World Aquatics, USA Swimming and the World Anti-Doping Agency. In the suit, Enhanced Games alleges that these organizations have unlawfully discouraged athletes from participating in the new competition.
According to SwimSwam, the Enhanced Games described the actions by the defendants as a “coordinated campaign to target the organization.”
The Enhanced Games alleged that swimmers and other athletes are being steered away from participating in the competition due to a new rule adopted by World Aquatics that prohibits athletes who have competed in the Enhanced Games from returning to World Aquatics competitions. While this rule only applies to World Aquatics meets, such as World Championships, the governing body is encouraging all member federations to follow similar policies. It also applies to more than athletes, as World Aquatics said it would ban “relevant persons” who participate in the competition, as well, including coaches and trainers.
“Until this issue is resolved, it’s causing irreparable harm to our ability to sign athletes,” said Enhanced Games president Aron D’Souza. “Athletes who are both ‘natural’ and ‘enhanced’ can compete at the games. That’s part of the narrative that makes this interesting. Can a ‘natural’ athlete beat an ‘enhanced’ athlete?”
USA Swimming also released a statement on the risks of athletes participating in the Enhanced Games. “Even if you are not personally engaged in doping, affiliation with the Enhanced Games could significantly affect your ability to participate in future competitions due to U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and World Anti-Doping Agency rules and regulations. Therefore, we feel it is important to remind you of the relevant rules and risks surrounding doping activities within the Olympic Movement.”
The Enhanced Games is seeking damages and an injunction to stop what the organization describes as World Aquatics’ targeted campaign against it.
