Several Olympics lawsuits have moved through U.S. courts over the past two years, covering trademark protection, antitrust claims by athletes and a rival league, brain-injury allegations in bobsled, and a challenge from a doping-permissive competitor. Three have produced settlements or verdicts; one was dismissed. Here is where each case stands.
USOPC v. Prime Hydration
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee sued Prime Hydration, LLC on July 19, 2024 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, targeting a Kevin Durant-branded bottle that launched ten days earlier, just before the Paris Games.1CourtListener. United States Olympic Paralympic Committee v. Prime Hydration LLC The USOPC alleged Prime used four protected marks without permission — “Olympic,” “Olympian,” “Team USA,” and “Going for Gold” — on packaging and in ads promoting the “Team USA Kevin Durant Drink” and the “Kevin Durant Olympic Prime Drink.”2NBC News. US Olympic Committee Sues Logan Paul Prime Hydration Durant was not named as a defendant.3Finnegan. Unpacking Prime Hydrations Olympic TM Suit
The complaint leaned on the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, which gives the USOPC unusually strong protection over Olympic words and symbols. Under that statute, the committee does not have to show consumer confusion, only unauthorized commercial use.4Debevoise & Plimpton. Olympics Advertising How to Comply With the USOPCs The USOPC called Prime’s conduct “willful, deliberate, and in bad faith,” noting that marketing continued after a cease-and-desist letter went out on July 10, 2024, and it sought an injunction, a recall, disgorgement of Durant-collaboration profits, and trebled and punitive damages.5CCH. USOPC v. Prime Hydration Complaint
Prime pulled the product from its website and social channels soon after the filing, though third-party retailers kept selling it.3Finnegan. Unpacking Prime Hydrations Olympic TM Suit The company filed a motion to dismiss in November 2024, but the parties settled before any ruling. Judge Regina M. Rodriguez granted voluntary dismissal on January 15, 2025.6Front Office Sports. Olympic Committee Prime Hydration Reach Settlement Settlement terms were not disclosed.7Bloomberg Law. Prime Hydration Settles Olympic Trademark Suit Over Durant Drink
Swimmers and the ISL Against World Aquatics
Olympic and world champion swimmers Katinka Hosszú, Tom Shields, and Michael Andrew filed an antitrust class action in a California federal court in 2018 against FINA, now World Aquatics. They alleged the governing body penalized and threatened to ban athletes who competed in the International Swimming League, a rival professional circuit backed by Ukrainian billionaire Konstantin Grigorishin. World Aquatics countered that its restriction on unsanctioned events had been off the books since July 2019 and was never meant to be enforced.8Courthouse News. Judge Grants Final Approval to Multimillion Dollar Swimming Antitrust Settlement
In September 2025, World Aquatics agreed to fund a $4.6 million settlement, split between $1,127,084 for swimmers who signed on for the 2018 ISL event in Turin and $3.5 million for the 2019 ISL class. The deal also required World Aquatics to allow athletes to compete in independent events without penalty and to recognize those results in its official records.9SwimSwam. ISL vs FINA Lawsuit Class Members Have Until December 30 to Object Class members had until December 30, 2025 to object; none did, and only two opted out. Judge Jaqueline Scott Corley granted final approval on April 1, 2026.10Courthouse News. Shields v. World Aquatics Final Settlement Approval Order
The ISL brought a separate suit that reached a jury before Judge Corley in January 2026. On January 23, the jury found that World Aquatics violated antitrust law by orchestrating a boycott of ISL events through its member federations, and that the harm to competition was not outweighed by any procompetitive benefits.11Courthouse News. Swimming League Wins Antitrust Verdict Gets Whopping $1 in Damages The ISL had sought $40 million. The jury awarded $1, apparently unpersuaded that the league had proved a specific dollar figure of loss.12SwimSwam. Jury Finds in Favor of ISL in Case Against World Aquatics but Awards Only $1 in Damages World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam said the verdict confirmed the dispute was “short-lived” and had not significantly harmed the ISL. The liability finding still gives the ISL a basis to pursue attorney fees and an injunction against future conduct.
The league suspended operations in 2021 and has announced plans to relaunch in the fall of 2026 or 2027, leaning more on sponsorships and media deals. Reports indicate it still owes money to athletes from its last active season.13SwimSwam. International Swimming League ISL Reportedly in Contact With Coaches Athletes Regarding Return
Bobsled “Sled Head” Brain Injury Cases
Attorneys announced a proposed $2.1 million settlement in May 2026 in a class action against USA Bobsled/Skeleton Inc. (USABS). The suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court in September 2021 by lead plaintiff William Person, alleges USABS failed to warn athletes about “sled head” — concussions and subconcussive injuries from repeated impacts during training and racing.14MyNewsLA. $2.1 Million Settlement Proposed in Sled Head Injury Lawsuit
Person competed in USABS programs from 1999 to 2007, including the America’s Cup, World Cup, Olympic Trials, and World Championships. The proposed deal would fund a medical monitoring program and testing benefits for roughly 650 class members. A preliminary approval hearing was set for June 24, 2026 before Judge Elihu M. Berle.14MyNewsLA. $2.1 Million Settlement Proposed in Sled Head Injury Lawsuit
USABS denies any established link between the sport and brain injuries, saying there is “not generally any accepted medical and scientific evidence” tying bobsledding to chronic traumatic encephalopathy. It has also argued that bobsledding is inherently dangerous and that athletes assume the risk.14MyNewsLA. $2.1 Million Settlement Proposed in Sled Head Injury Lawsuit
In March 2026, Person, Joe Sisson, and Rick Baird filed individual personal injury lawsuits in Los Angeles County Superior Court against USABS, the USOPC, and other entities. Those complaints allege officials knowingly suppressed evidence of brain injury risks, fostered a “culture of silence,” and failed to provide concussion protocols. Defendants had not responded as of the time of reporting.15Los Angeles Times. Lawsuits US Bobsledding Skeleton Brain Injuries CTE
Enhanced Games v. WADA
The Enhanced Games, a planned competition that would permit performance-enhancing drugs, sued the World Anti-Doping Agency, World Aquatics, and USA Swimming in August 2025, seeking $800 million and alleging an illegal campaign to discourage athletes from taking part. A federal judge dismissed the initial claims. After WADA filed its motion to dismiss on November 17, 2025, Enhanced Games declined to refile, saying continued litigation was not “financially prudent.”16ESPN. Judge Dismisses Enhanced Games $800M Lawsuit Critics17The New York Times / The Athletic. Enhanced Games Lawsuit Anti-Doping Aquatics