One of the biggest struggles athletes face is not just low prize money, but the long wait before it even hits their bank accounts. Tech mogul Alexis Ohanian spotted the flaw and decided to fix it with Athlos. How? By teaming up with Cash App to deliver $60,000 in prize money instantly after an athlete’s win. A bold move, no doubt, but while Ohanian may have solved one problem, he’s now facing a new one as critics raise a pressing question about his approach.

Taking to their X account, McKirdy Trained, a coaching association dedicated to Olympians and emerging runners,  raised a pointed question to Athlos and Ohanian:

Well, under U.S. anti-doping regulations, the funds are usually withheld until drug test results are officially cleared, a process that can take several days or even weeks. Sometimes athletes even get their money after a month or two – a general procedure that is followed by many leagues and tournaments. Athlos’ instant Cash App payment model is somewhat unprecedented in that regard.

Track and field journalist Ashley Mateo even weighed in on the issue on Threads. When a fan raised the same question, she admitted she wasn’t entirely sure how the event organizers were managing to sidestep the rules. Mateo noted that they either fall under the jurisdiction of USADA, WADA, and USATF regulations—or they’ve introduced something entirely new. Sharing a screenshot of the CashApp x Athlos announcement, she highlighted the line: “Per ATHLOS: ‘All awards subject to anti-doping compliance.’”

Alexis Ohanian and his Athlos initiative have certainly transformed a major aspect of the game with their new formula, and sprinters couldn’t be happier about it. When asked, Masai S. Russell expressed that she had actually received the prize money. Russel flashed her bank balance with a grin and said, “Can you see that in the corner? They’re not playing any games — yes, I got mine.” And she wasn’t the only one cashing in fast; Tara Davis-Woodhall also confirmed that her payment hit instantly after the event.

In fact, Athlos shared an exclusive interview where she proudly displayed her bank balance, revealing that the full $60,000 had landed in her account before she even checked into her hotel room. Well, the question remains unanswered. Athlos has everything, but it appears that the critics want some answers for transparency. Recently, Ohanian was even asked about the ownership of the women-only event.

Alexis Ohanian reveals the ownership of Athlos

On the Athlos’ grand opening, Alexis Ohanian took the stage alongside Tara Davis-Woodhall for a lively media presser. Amid the flurry of questions, one query instantly caught everyone’s attention: a reporter boldly asked how Athlos’ ownership was structured and exactly how much Ohanian himself controlled.

With a smile on his face, the tech-mogul explained that the company remains fully independent. He said, “I have not brought on any additional investors. We own 100% of it, minus what we have given to our three sorts of investor-owner partners.”

Ohanian revealed that the only partners holding stakes are track icons Gabby Thomas, Tara Davis-Woodhall, and Sha’Carri Richardson, all serving as advisor-owners. But when reporters pushed for exact figures on how much each co-founder owned, Ohanian drew the line with a grin, saying, “I’m going to stop talking. But good effort. Good job.”

He expressed that the company’s liquidity is strong and that they are performing better than expected. He also asserted that the 2026 event will be even more enticing than this one. Regardless, what are your thoughts about the hubbub? Share your opinion in the comments below.