‘Bullying tactics’: Enhanced Games will pay legal fees of clean athletes who compete
By Tom Decent
The president of the Enhanced Games has launched an extraordinary attack on World Aquatics, accusing the global swimming body of protecting a “monopoly” and resorting to “bullying tactics” after it moved to ban athletes, coaches and officials linked to the controversial breakaway event.
Earlier this week, World Aquatics passed a bylaw that renders anyone who supports or participates in competitions that embrace doping ineligible from all official roles in swimming or competing in major events, such as the world championships and Olympics.
The measure was brought in with immediate effect in an attempt to nullify the Enhanced Games - a controversial event that allows the use of performance-enhancing substances.
Enhanced Games president Dr Aron D’Souza has hit back, vowing to fund legal action for any clean athlete who wants to compete at the Enhanced Games and fight their ban, enforced by World Aquatics, in court.
“We will support any natural or enhanced athlete denied the option to make this choice - both by providing them with an opportunity to compete and win - or by providing legal support against World Aquatics in the case of any challenge,” D’Souza 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.
Australian swimmer James Magnussen ahead of his world record attempt at the Enhanced Games.Credit: Enhanced Games
“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.”
In a separate statement, the Enhanced Games said: “This isn’t the first time World Aquatics (formerly FINA) has tried to block progress. ... At the [Paris] Olympics, even World Athletics offered prize money. World Aquatics and its President, Husain al Musallam, did not.”
The Enhanced Games will take place in Las Vegas in May next year. Australian Olympian James Magnussen, who has publicly acknowledged taking performance-enhancing drugs in a bid to break the 50m freestyle world record, has become the face of the Enhanced Games and will compete alongside other Olympians now doping, such as Kristian Gkolomeev and Andrii Govorov.
As part of a recent documentary, Gkolomeev went under the 50m freestyle world record and was awarded a US$1 million cheque but had been taking banned drugs and wore a swimsuit banned by World Aquatics.
James Magnussen is injected with a performance-enhancing substance.Credit: Enhanced Games
World Aquatics does not pay athletes for winning medals at the Olympics but prize money is on offer at world championships and other events during an Olympic cycle.
No clean athlete has publicly expressed a desire to compete at the Enhanced Games but swimmers will no doubt be tempted by huge prize money on offer, including a US$1 million bonus ($AUD1.51m) for breaking a world record in either the 50m freestyle or 100m sprint.
World Aquatics has previously labelled the Enhanced Games a “circus” run by “clowns juggling knives”.
“Those who enable doped sport are not welcome at World Aquatics or our events,” World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam said in a statement this week. “This new bylaw ensures that we can continue to protect the integrity of our competitions, the health and safety of our athletes, and the credibility of the global aquatics community.”
World Aquatics will make decisions regarding ineligibility on a case-by-case basis.
Magnussen has called on Australian star and reigning Olympic 50m freestyle champion Cam McEvoy to race against him in Vegas next year.
However, McEvoy has expressed serious concerns about the Enhanced Games, while Australian legend Ariarne Titmus said she wouldn’t be associated with the event even if she was offered $10 million.
“I’ve got a pretty strong stance on this. I’m not afraid to speak out on it. It doesn’t sit well with me morally,” Titmus said.