World Aquatics has introduced sweeping new rules that will ban athletes and personnel associated with so-called doping-enabling competitions, in a direct response to the rise of the Enhanced Games, a controversial sporting event that allows performance-enhancing drug use and is scheduled to launch in Las Vegas.
In a statement issued earlier this week, World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam made the organisation’s position unequivocally clear: “Those who enable doped sport are not welcome at World Aquatics or our events.” While the Enhanced Games is not mentioned by name in the updated bylaw, the language targets “people, organisations and competitions that promote or enable doping,” and is aimed at the event and its growing list of high-profile athletes.
Two-time Olympian Kristian Gkolomeev recently became the latest swimmer to join the Enhanced Games roster, following Australian sprint champion James Magnussen. Gkolomeev had previously drawn global attention by participating in a publicity stunt organised by the Enhanced Games in which he claimed to have broken the 50-metre freestyle world record, a feat widely criticised for lacking verified doping control or recognised officiating.
World Aquatics’ new policy goes beyond traditional anti-doping rules, which typically sanction athletes with fixed suspensions upon testing positive for banned substances. Instead, the federation is now barring anyone affiliated with doping-friendly competitions from any involvement in aquatic sport. The ineligibility extends to roles such as athlete, coach, team official, administrator, medical staff or even government representatives connected to aquatic sport governance.
This means athletes like Magnussen and Gkolomeev, who have aligned themselves with the Enhanced Games, could find themselves permanently excluded from World Aquatics events and potentially blocked from coaching or holding leadership roles in the sport. It may also jeopardise the future of Brett Hawke, a former elite swimmer and Olympic coach, who was recently named head swim coach of the Enhanced Games. Hawke had previously spoken out against doping in sport but has now found himself on the opposing side of that narrative.
In addition to imposing restrictions at the international level, World Aquatics is urging its member federations to adopt similar policies for national-level competitions and events under their jurisdiction. Eligibility decisions will be handled on a case-by-case basis, but the message is clear: collaboration with the Enhanced Games will carry serious professional consequences.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has publicly endorsed the new bylaw, applauding World Aquatics for taking a stand. In a strongly worded statement, WADA President Witold Bańka said, “WADA applauds the initiative shown by World Aquatics to take a firm stand against those who are actively jeopardising the health of athletes and the integrity of clean sport. It sends a firm message that World Aquatics will not be deterred, and that those who choose to partake in experimental and dangerous sideshows will no longer be welcome to participate in credible competition.”
WADA welcomes World Aquatics decision to adopt Bylaw aimed at protecting clean sport. Read more here: https://t.co/9JnL0UMrVy
— WADA (@wada_ama) June 4, 2025
With the Enhanced Games continuing to attract attention and controversy, World Aquatics has made it clear that it will not share a platform with competitions that abandon anti-doping principles. The move is one of the strongest yet by an international sports federation against the growing challenge posed by unregulated, performance-enhanced competitions.
