Shocking new swimming law could cost Australians their Olympic dreams

The world of competitive swimming has just been rocked by a new ruling that’s making waves far beyond the pool. 

In a move that’s as controversial as it is unprecedented, swimming’s global governing body, World Aquatics (WA), has announced a sweeping ban on any athlete or coach who participates in the so-called ‘Steroid Games’—officially known as the Enhanced Games. 

And yes, that means some high-profile Aussies are now barred from ever competing at the Olympics or world championships again.

What are the Enhanced Games—and why are they so controversial? 

The Enhanced Games, brainchild of Australian entrepreneur Aron D’Souza, are set to debut in Las Vegas next year. 

Unlike the Olympics, these Games openly allow athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs and banned substances, essentially tossing the rulebook out the window. 

The idea? To see just how far the human body can go when science and sport collide, no holds barred.

Former Australian world champion James Magnussen has become the poster boy for this radical event, while ex-Olympian Brett Hawke has signed on as head coach of the Enhanced Games swimming team. 

Both men, along with anyone else who participates or even helps organise the Enhanced Games, are now persona non grata in the world of Olympic swimming.

World Aquatics draws a line in the sand

World Aquatics president Husain al-Musallam didn’t mince words: ‘Those who enable doped sport are not welcome at World Aquatics or our events.’ 

The new bylaw is designed to protect the integrity of the sport, the health and safety of athletes, and the credibility of the global aquatics community.

The ban isn’t just for athletes, either. Anyone who prepares for or takes part in the Enhanced Games—athletes, coaches, even officials—will be ineligible to hold any position with the sport’s governing body. 

WA is also urging national federations, including Swimming Australia, to adopt similar policies.

Australian legends speak out

Not everyone is on board with the Enhanced Games’ anything-goes approach. Four-time Olympic gold medallist Ariarne Titmus voiced her concerns on Triple M, saying, 

‘It doesn’t sit well with me. I think about what message is this sending kids around the world? That it’s OK to take performance-enhancing drugs? I firmly believe that it’s not.’ 

‘We don’t know exactly the implications of taking these amounts of performance-enhancing drugs are going to have on our body, and morally, I don’t agree with it.’

The Magnussen experiment: Science or sideshow?

James Magnussen, once known as ‘the Missile’, has been making headlines for his dramatic transformation. 

After six years in retirement, he’s bulked up and openly admitted to using a cocktail of testosterone and peptides—substances banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)—in a bid to break the 50m freestyle world record.

His first attempt at the Enhanced Games’ precursor event in North Carolina saw him narrowly miss out on the US$1 million prize, losing to Greece’s Kristian Gkolomeev, who swam a blistering 20.89 seconds in a high-tech suit. 

Gkolomeev’s performance, aided by undisclosed substances and a polyurethane suit banned from Olympic competition, broke a record that had stood since 2009.

But Magnussen isn’t done yet. He’s already tweaking his regime for another shot at the million-dollar payday at the official Enhanced Games in Las Vegas next May.

The bigger picture: What does this mean for sport?

The Enhanced Games have sparked a fierce debate about the future of sport. Are we witnessing the dawn of a new era where science and technology are embraced, or is this a dangerous step towards undermining the very spirit of fair competition?

Supporters argue that the Enhanced Games are simply acknowledging what’s already happening behind closed doors, and that transparency and medical supervision could make sport safer. 

Critics, however, warn of the unknown long-term health risks and the message it sends to young athletes.

Brett Hawke, now head coach of the Enhanced Games swimming team, summed up the pro-enhancement argument on Instagram: ‘Just the suit and enhancements? Look deeper. You need skill and talent to swim faster than anyone in history.’ But is that enough to justify the risks?

What’s next for Australian swimming?

With World Aquatics leading the charge, it’s likely that Swimming Australia and other national bodies will follow suit, making it clear that there’s no place for ‘enhanced’ athletes in mainstream competition. 

For Magnussen, Hawke, and others, the choice is stark: pursue glory in the Enhanced Games and forfeit any hope of Olympic or world championship participation, or stick to the traditional path and play by the rules.

Your turn: What do you think?

This is one of the most divisive issues to hit the sporting world in years, and we want to hear from you. Do you think the Enhanced Games are a bold step forward or a dangerous precedent? Should athletes be free to push the limits with science, or does this undermine the very essence of sport? And what message does this send to the next generation of Aussie swimmers?

Share your thoughts in the comments below—let’s get the conversation started!

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