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04 Jun, 2025
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World Aquatics takes robust stance against Enhanced Games as Aussie swimmers endorsing controversial competition are BANNED from the Olympics
@Source: dailymail.co.uk
World Aquatics have revealed that they are introducing a new bylaw that will prevent athletes who have 'endorsed, supported or participated' in events such as the controversial 'Enhanced Games' from competing at the Olympics or any other sanctioned events. It means Aussie swimmer James Magnussen, who has been a backer of the so-called 'Steroid Games', will now be unable to compete at the Olympics in 2028 and the World Championships. Though any ban is unlikely to affect Magnussen who retired from competitive swimming after the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. Though the new bylaw means that he will also be unable to take up a coaching or official capacity at any World Acquatics sanctioned event with the new rule also applying to coaches, team officials, administrators and medical staff. Aussie coach Brett Hawke, who recently became the head coach of the Enhanced Games swimming team will also now be prohibited from working at the Olympics. Hawke has has been coaching in the US since 2006. In a bid to keep sport free from performance-enhancing substances, World Aquatics announced on Tuesday that it would be taking a firm stance on athletes who participate or endorse the event. 'World Aquatics has adopted a new Bylaw that reinforces its steadfast commitment to clean sport,' a statement on the body's website read. The governing body's president Husain Al Musallam added: 'Those who enable doped sport are not welcome at World Aquatics or our events. '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.' The statement clarifies that those endorsing or participating in events that 'embrace the use of scientific advancements or other practices 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.' The governing body revealed that the measure would come into effect 'immediately'. Last week, the Enhanced Games was given the green light to go ahead and plans are currently in place for the event to begin in Las Vegas next year. The event was launched by Australian entrepreneur Aron D'Souza, who has backing from multi-billionaires and a family company of US president Donald Trump. The event allows athletes to benefit from using performance-enhancing drugs, with Magnussen, who won Olympic medals in 2016 and 2012, being the first athlete to commit. Athletes are said to be competing for prize purses of up to $500,000, while bonuses of $250,000 are offered out to those who break world records. Swimmers Kristian Gkolomeev, Andrii Govorov and Josif Miladinov all followed suit, but all will now be banned from competing in World Aquatics events, per the new ruling. Magnussen, a dual 100m freestyle world champion, came out of retirement to compete at Enhanced Games, an event supporting the use of performance-enhancing drugs to feature swimming, athletics and weightlifting. D'Souza will soon respond to World Aquatics' move, while Hawke forecast some backlash when at the Enhanced Games' launch in Las Vegas last month. 'You'd be silly not to think that people aren't going to be opposed to it,' Hawke told AAP on May 21. 'But we're outside the scope of the Olympic Games and World Aquatics, we're not competing in that space. 'I would never want an athlete to participate at the Olympic Games and be cheating and, unfortunately, I think that is happening in this day and age.' Hawke has already started coaching Magnussen and the second athlete to sign for Enhanced Games, Greece's four-time Olympic freestyler Gkolomeev. The pair swam timed 50m freestyle races while on performance-enhancing drugs in February in the US. Gkolomeev clocked 20.89 seconds, bettering the 50m freestyle world record of 20.91 set by Brazil's Cesar Cilio when coached by Hawke in 2009, to collect $US1 million offered by Enhanced Games for anyone breaking the legal benchmark. Ukraine's 50m butterfly world record-holder Andriy Govorov and Bulgarian butterflier Josif Miladino are other confirmed athletes for Enhanced Games, with further signings to be announced.
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