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≡ ENHANCED GAMES WARNING ≡
“This new Bylaw clearly affirms World Aquatics’ position: people, organisations and competitions that promote or enable doping have no place in aquatics.”
The World Aquatics Bureau passed an immediately-effective bylaw on Tuesday (3rd) which takes dead aim at the recently-announced, pro-doping (but unmentioned by name) Enhanced Games.
The text of the new regulation specifies that any “Relevant Person” who desires to participate in a World Aquatics activity shall not be eligible if they:
● “(i) actively supported or endorsed a sporting event or competition that embraces scientific enhancements that include the use of Prohibited Substances or Prohibited Methods (as those terms are defined in the Doping Control Rules) and/or the use of any illegal drug; and/or
● “(ii) participated (in any capacity) in any such event or competition; and/or
● “(iii) supported (e.g., as a coach, trainer, manager, training partner, doctor, or physiotherapist) any other person in their preparation for and/or participation in any such event or competition.”
The bylaw states that “The Bureau shall decide on the application of this By-law in each particular case,” appealable to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Further, “Member Federations may choose to apply a similar policy for national competitions and events under their jurisdiction.”
There is some pressure on World Aquatics as the four athletes already identified to compete in the first Enhanced Games in Las Vegas, Nevada in May 2026 are all swimmers:
● James Magnussen (AUS), 34, the World men’s 100 m Freestyle champion in 2011 and 2013.
● Andrii Govorov (UKR), 33, European 50 m Butterfly champion in 2016 and 2018.
● Kristian Gkolomeev (GRE), 31, 2019 World 50 m Free silver medalist and 2024 European champion.
● Josif Miladinov (BUL), 21, 2020 European Championships 100 m Butterfly runner-up.
The Enhanced Games program is slated for 21-24 May in Las Vegas, promising events in athletics, swimming and weightlifting, but with limited details so far.
The International Weightlifting Federation issued a statement back on 23 May, noting:
“The IWF is firmly opposed to the organisation of the 2026 Enhanced games (where the sport of Weightlifting was announced in the programme) and the danger it poses not just to athlete health but the integrity of sport.”
World Athletics and the Athletics Integrity Unit have not commented since the announcement of the Enhanced Games, but have repeatedly stated their displeasure with the event.
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USA Swimming confirmed the already-leaked news that it will return to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials, following up on the very successful 2024 event.
The facility offered up to 30,000 seats per session and records for swimming attendance were set twice during the 2024 Trials, with a high of 22,209 for the evening session on 22 June.
The 2024 Trials had a total attendance of 285,202 or an average of 16,777 per session, and reportedly cleared $5 million net for USA Swimming, which organized the event in conjunction with the Indiana Sports Corporation and was reported to create a $132 million economic impact for the area.
Per the announcement, “Three temporary pools – one 50-meter competition pool and two warm-up pools – will be installed over the field in Lucas Oil Stadium,” and “[t]he Indiana Convention Center, connected to the stadium, will feature USA Swimming’s Toyota Aqua Zone.”
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