Enhanced Games vs. World Sport: Inside an $800M Monopoly Battle
The "Olympics on Steroids" have filed what could be a landmark lawsuit for athletes' rights to compete in unlicensed events, even those encouraging the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
On August 27, the Enhanced Games, a startup sports festival that permits performance-enhancing drugs and carries out no drug testing, started a landmark legal battle against major and more traditional sports organizations.
The Enhanced Games is seeking $800 million in damages, as part of an antitrust lawsuit accusing World Aquatics, USA Swimming, and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) of running an “illegal campaign” to boycott and crush its event.
What do they want to achieve with this lawsuit?
This ire was sparked in June, when World Aquatics pledged to ban any athlete or staff who participate or endorse competitions embracing scientific “enhancements.”
Enhanced Games believes this essentially blacklists them. President Aron D’Souza insists the lawsuit is not a PR stunt but a needed step to prevent scare tactics.
The Enhanced Games are arguing that sports organizations such as World Aquatics have abused their power to protect a monopoly and block new competitors.
By potentially bann…
