High-tech swimsuits to be banned by FINA

A proposal from USA Swimming to rein in swimsuit technology was approved by FINA's technical congress Thursday, and the long-term effect could help end a situation that has divided the sport.

The new rule states: "No swimmer shall be permitted to use or wear any device OR SWIMSUIT that may aid his speed, buoyancy or endurance during a competition," with the new words in capital letters.

"We felt like that was a good victory," Mark Schubert, head coach and general manager of the U.S. national team, told The Associated Press.

Schubert said there was only one dissenting vote from the 100-plus members in the congress.

FINA has come under criticism for its failure to regulate the rapid advance in swimsuit technology that has led to 108 world records last year and nearly 30 so far this year.

Some suits are suspected of creating "air trapping" effects that enhance speed.

"It's still a bit unclear on how it will affect the swimsuit issue, because we still need to define what the rules are going to be," Schubert said. "We still have some work to do but it was something in the right direction."

USA Swimming has another proposal for Friday's FINA general congress, where Julio Maglione of Uruguay will take over from Mustapha Larfaoui as FINA's president. The Americans, with Australia's backing, would now like to limit swimsuit coverage beyond the shoulders and below the knees.

"It will be interesting to see if that passes as well, but certainly today there was a strong sentiment against what is going on," Schubert said.

Besides a new president, FINA's 22-person executive bureau is also expected to change in Friday's congress.

"For me the most important thing is about what happens the 28th when the new bureau decides on new rules," FINA executive director Cornel Marculescu said. "That's going to be another step forward.

"The most important thing is defining rules for buoyancy, thickness, permeability and compression — and developing scientific tests," Marculescu added.

Marculescu met with head coaches from the United States, Australia, Canada, Britain, Netherlands and Russia Thursday evening to map out a new strategy.

"We just had a chat about where we we're at and where we would like to go," Australia head coach Alan Thompson said. "I think we're all of the same opinion. It was a good discussion and a good opportunity to get all the coaches together."

Jan-Anders Manson, a scientist contracted by FINA to test suits, also attended the meeting.

Manson has a room set up at the Foro Italico to test suits for buoyancy, thickness and permeability — plus labelling machines to attach tags to approved suits.

Swimsuit rule unchanged for Rome

Still, no new rules will go into effect until after the world championships, with traditional swimming events here beginning Sunday.

"This meet is what it is, and I think everybody will be prepared to wear the suits that are legal and I think you're going to see a very fast swimming meet," Schubert said.

Australia head coach Alan Thompson has suggested that nearly every world record in the pool could fall at the Foro Italico.

"I think there's some records that were set in Beijing that might be a little more difficult to break but we'll see," Schubert said. "There is going to be a fair number [of records]."

Australia's team introduction Thursday was dominated by suit talk.

"I really hope we can finish talking about swimsuits today," Thompson said. "As with many swim teams around the world, we have had enough of this discussion.

"All of us in the swimming world are hoping FINA provides strong leadership on this issue in the next few days to ensure the credibility of our sport. These are difficult times we have," Thompson added. "We know it's a story. But we came here to swim. We didn't come here for a fashion parade."

Both Australia and the U.S. teams are sponsored by Speedo, but many of those countries' swimmers could opt for different suits here. Speedo's LZR Racer, the suit responsible for most of last year's world records, is now widely considered slower than Jaked's 01 and Arena's Powerskin R-Evolution.

Incoming FINA president Maglione is said to favour a return to briefs, which would be a more extreme solution than the Americans' knees and shoulders rule.

"But it wouldn't be something that we would be opposed to," Schubert said, adding that with briefs the best swimmer always wins. "Wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?"