World Aquatics has become the first international sports federation to bar athletes, coaches, and officials involved with the controversial Enhanced Games, underlining its commitment to clean sport ahead of the inaugural event in 2026.
World Aquatics has taken a significant step in the ongoing discourse around fair competition by becoming the first international sports federation to prohibit participation from athletes, coaches, and officials involved with the controversial Enhanced Games. This new directive comes as the Enhanced Games, which advocate for the use of performance-enhancing substances, prepare for their inaugural event scheduled in Las Vegas from 21-24 May 2026.
The Enhanced Games are positioned as a provocative alternative to traditional sporting events, aiming to embrace and celebrate the use of banned performance-enhancing drugs. Initial plans suggest the competition will focus on short-distance swimming, sprinting, and weightlifting, raising alarms among advocates of clean sport. With recent claims from Enhanced Games organisers that Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev has recorded a time of 20.89 seconds in a 50m freestyle trial—surpassing the long-standing world record—the controversy intensifies further.
In response, World Aquatics announced a new bylaw emphasizing its unwavering commitment to promoting clean sport. The organisation articulated that anyone supporting or participating in events that endorse the use of scientific advancements or prohibited substances would be barred from competing or holding positions within World Aquatics. This applies broadly to roles including athletes, coaches, medical personnel, and officials. The federation has encouraged other national organisations to implement similar policies to maintain uniform standards across the sport.
Critics have voiced substantial concerns regarding the Enhanced Games, with the World Anti-Doping Agency labelling it a “dangerous and irresponsible project” that jeopardises athletes’ health and undermines the principles of fair play. Despite this backlash, the initiative has gained notable support from influential figures, including venture capitalists aligned with prominent political figures like Donald Trump Jr. and billionaire entrepreneur Peter Thiel.
Husain al Musallam, president of World Aquatics, underscored the federation’s stance, stating, “Those who enable doped sport are not welcome at World Aquatics or our events.” This declaration reaffirms World Aquatics’ determination to safeguard the integrity of its competitions, the health of its athletes, and the credibility of the global aquatics community amidst a growing climate of performance-enhancing drug discourse in sports.
Reference Map:
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.bbc.com/sport/swimming/articles/c39x3ppx18jo – Please view link – unable to able to access data
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emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
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Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is current, with the latest publication dated 3 June 2025. The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is also 3 June 2025. The narrative is not republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. The content is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. There are no discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes compared to earlier versions. No similar content has appeared more than 7 days earlier. The article includes updated data and does not recycle older material.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quote from Husain al Musallam, president of World Aquatics, stating, “Those who enable doped sport are not welcome at World Aquatics or our events,” is unique to this narrative. No identical quotes appear in earlier material. The wording matches the original source without variations. No online matches are found for this quote, indicating potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable organisation, the BBC, which is a strength. The BBC is a well-established and trustworthy news outlet. The individuals and organisations mentioned, including World Aquatics, the Enhanced Games, and Husain al Musallam, are verifiable online and have legitimate public presences.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The time-sensitive claim about World Aquatics implementing a new bylaw prohibiting participation from individuals supporting or participating in doping practices is corroborated by recent online information. The Enhanced Games, scheduled to debut in May 2026 in Las Vegas, are covered by multiple reputable outlets, including Reuters and the Financial Times. The narrative includes specific factual anchors, such as dates, names, and institutions, enhancing its credibility. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic, and the structure is focused on the main claim without excessive or off-topic detail. The tone is formal and appropriate for a news report.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is current, original, and sourced from a reputable organisation. All claims are plausible and supported by verifiable information. There are no significant credibility risks identified.
