The Enhanced Games has filed an $800m lawsuit against several international sporting bodies, including World Aquatics, over a ban preventing athletes from competing in its competitions.
The antitrust lawsuit was filed in New York and lists World Aquatics, USA Swimming and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as defendants.
The Enhanced Games claims organisations like World Acquaitics are not protecting athletes from their non-doping games, but “protecting a monopoly”.
The Enhanced Games is seeking upwards of $800m in compensation and “injunctive relief” as it claims sporting and anti-doping agencies are running “illegal campaigns” to incentivise its athletes to boycott its events.
How did we get here?
The Enhanced Games was founded by President Aron D’Souza, who began organising Olympic-style athletic competitions without athletes having to adhere to doping tests, essentially opening the gates to drug-fuelled competition.
The inaugural Enhanced Games are set to take place in Las Vegas, at Resorts World May 21-24, 2026. There are currently five athletes from swimming, track and weightlifting who have already signed up.
While not specifically naming The Enhanced Games, World Aquatics introduced a new bylaw in June 2025 (By-Law 10), threatening lifetime ineligibility for anyone who participates in or even endorses events that “embrace scientific enhancements.”
“Under the new bylaw, individuals who support, endorse, or participate in sporting events that embrace the use of scientific advancements or other practices that may include prohibited substances and/or prohibited methods will not be eligible to hold positions with World Aquatics or to participate in any World Aquatics competitions, events, or other activities,” said World Aquatics in its statement.
“This ineligibility would apply to roles such as athlete, coach, team official, administrator, medical support staff, or government representative.”
Upon the announcement of the World Aquatics bylaw, D’Souza told the Associated Press the ban is to protect World Aquatics “monopoly” over swimming and believes the ban comes amid Enhanced Games providing substantial prize money and other sports stagnating.
He said: “This ban isn’t about protecting athletes. It’s about protecting a monopoly. World Aquatics hasn’t paid its athletes for decades. Now, faced with real competition and real momentum, they’ve fallen back on threats and bullying tactics.
“Let’s be clear: the real danger to sport isn’t science. It’s stagnation. Enhanced is building a better future – one where athletes are empowered, enhancements are embraced responsibly, and excellence is properly compensated.”
How have WADA responded
The Enhanced Games’ enablement of doping by its ‘enhanced athletes’ has not been sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) or recognised by any athletic international federation.The Games have received private funding to operate.
The Enhanced Games also does not follow the World Anti-Doping Code, the global standards and regulations that houses policies, rules and advice to all participating sporting organisations across the world.
WADA issued a statement in May 2025, warning athletes who choose to compete in The Enhanced Games would be at risk of violating the code and “risk forever being associated with doping”.
“To be clear, WADA will encourage Anti-Doping Organizations to test involved athletes before, during and after this event, in order to protect the integrity of legitimate sport,” said the WADA statement.
“WADA also called on “all governments and law enforcement agencies” to assess whether athletes who admit to taking performance-enhancing drugs – or the physicians who supply or administer those substances – may be in breach of criminal laws or professional rules, whether in their own countries or wherever the event takes place.”
Swimming event ‘enhanced’
Within the complaint, D’Souza’s plans for the forthcoming Enhanced Games swimming events have been laid out. Effectively a short sprint meet, with 50m and 100m freestyle and butterfly on the programme, the field would comprise 20-30 athletes.
These would be split evenly between men and women, with head-to-head contests between ‘enhanced’ and ‘non-enhanced’ athletes to maximise media interest.
Prize money is pitched to dwarf incumbents, with each swim event carrying a $500,000 purse ($250,000 to the winner) with record-bonus payments up to $1m, and the filing touts a potential $7.5m payout in a single day of competition.
Eligibility is bifurcated. Non-enhanced entrants remain in WADA’s testing pool and, but for World Aquatics’ new by-law, could race in championships. Meanwhile, enhanced entrants must withdraw from the testing pool while in the programme, then serve a six-month re-entry period before returning to WADA-governed sport.
The delivery of the event requires at least 20 aquatics officials and 50–75 volunteers in addition to coaches, medics and timekeepers.
Enhanced incentives?
One of the major alluring components of The Enhanced Games has been the proposed remuneration and prize money for competitors.
Up to 100 athletes could be participating in next year’s inaugural event, with each winner able to earn $500,000 for finishing first. There is also a $1m bonus if an athlete breaks a world record in that respective event.
In comparison, World Aquatics events last year paid out a total of $7.1m in prize money to 319 swimmers.
Not only is The Enhanced Games claiming to be the next evolution of human athletes, promising to test them beyond their limits, but it is also looking to reward athletes with more financial incentives.
“Excellence should always be rewarded, and these exceptional athletes deserve exceptional compensation. We’ll continue to fight for all athletes to ensure they receive it,” said D’Souza.
“We will support any natural or enhanced athlete denied the option to make this choice – both by providing them an opportunity to compete and win – or by providing legal counsel against World Aquatics in the case of any challenge.”
