The World Aquatics governing body has announced that it has reached a financial settlement to resolve a lawsuit with swimmers who had signed up to compete at events in the now-defunct International Swimming League (ISL), and create a fund to remunerate the plaintiffs.
World Athletics has now set up a $4.6 million fund to pay all swimmers that competed in the inaugural 2018 ISL meet in Turin, as well as the 2019 ISL campaign,
This antitrust lawsuit was filed back in 2018, when World Aquatics was known as the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA), by three-time Olympic gold medalist Katinka Hosszu of Hungary and US world champions Tom Shields and Michael Andrew, accusing the governing body of engaging in monopolistic control over international competitions.
The lawsuit alleged that WA’s refusal to approve an ISL test event, the 2018 Energy for Swim, as well as threats to suspend athletes if they participated, violated the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1980 that prohibits organizations from engaging in anti-competitive behavior.
In 2023, the newly renamed World Aquatics claimed victory in the suit, however, in 2024, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit overturned that decision, citing a FINA rule that may have violated antitrust laws.
The initial lawsuit, filed with the US District Court for the Northern District of California, was seeking injunctive relief and monetary damages for the named plaintiffs and for all class members.
Speaking on the resolution of the suit, World Aquatics president Husain Al Musallam has now distanced himself from the previous regime and has said he is “delighted” that the court proceedings have finally been resolved.
He stated: “This lawsuit dates back to the previous management of FINA, and, regrettably, it has dragged on for so many years. However, I am pleased that we are finally able to step in and provide this significant sum of money for the swimmers, many of whom were badly let down.
“I do not believe that it would have been fair for our athletes to continue to suffer financially, and this settlement ensures that the swimmers are fully compensated and reflects World Aquatics’ continuing commitment to the development of the sport of swimming and support for swimming athletes around the world.”
One more lawsuit, filed by the ISL in 2018 at the same time as the Shields et al suit, remains open, however.
