Serena Williams' husband faces accusations of exploiting female athletes: this was his response
Alexis Ohanian defended the Athlos model against questions about his business in women's sports and proposed a structure in which some athletes also have an ownership stake in the league.
" The business of Alexis Ohanian in women's sports became the center of an uncomfortable discussion. Serena Williams' husband was accused of exploiting athletes through Athlos , the women's track and field competition he created, and decided to respond by focusing on one of the main features of his project.
For Ohanian , the issue is not just about how much an athlete is paid to compete. His bet is that some of them may be able to have a stake in ownership of the league itself and, in that way, also benefit if the value of the business increases.
The detail Ohanian uses to defend himself
Athlos introduced for 2026 a model of athlete ownership, through which certain athletes have a stake in the organization. Among the figures linked to the project are Gabby Thomas, Tara Davis-Woodhall, and Sha"Carri Richardson .
That is precisely one of the arguments used to defend the model against the criticism: the athletes would not only be the protagonists of a spectacle created by third parties, but some would also have a financial stake in its growth.
Athlos also increased the prizes
The project announced more than US$2.1 million in prize money for its two 2026 competitions. The winner of each event receives US$65,000 , while the overall champions also receive a US$25,000 bonus.
Athlos thus seeks to build a sports property with greater commercial appeal and compete for the attention of an audience that has historically received fewer offerings focused exclusively on women's athletics.
The business that started after a warning from Serena
Ohanian's bet also has a personal component. The businessman said that Serena Williams tried to dissuade him from investing in women's sports because she knew firsthand the economic and structural difficulties female athletes face.
Ohanian decided to move forward anyway and made women's sports an important part of his investment strategy. Athlos is now his most visible project in athletics.
That is why the accusations against the businessman open up a discussion that goes beyond his figure: Who should keep the money when women's sports become an increasingly bigger business?
