Fina legislate against hi-tech swim suits

Posted: Saturday 14th March 2009 | 20:44

WORLD swimming's governing body Fina has adopted new rules aimed at clamping down on high-tech swim suits.

BIG BUCKS: Michael Phelps received a one million dollar bonus from sponsor's Speedo after Beijing - but their LZR Racer swim suits attracted controversy (Getty Images)

Last year 108 world records were broken, 79 of them by swimmers wearing one suit - the Speedo LZR Racer.

At the Beijing Olympics, Speedo swimmers including American Michael Phelps and British double champion Rebecca Adlington, won 94% of the golds on offer and broke 23 of the 25 records set.

And after more records fell at last year's European Short Course Championships, leading coaches claimed the appliance of science has been taken too far.

British Swimming - which this week announced a new sponsorship deal with Speedo - was one of the 15 nations that presented a petition to Fina, calling for regulations to be implemented ahead of next year's World Championships in Rome.

However, Fina hope new guidelines announced in Dubai this weekend will help ease fears - and allegations of ‘technological doping'.

They stipulate swimsuits should not cover the neck and will not extend past the shoulders and ankles.

The suits will be limited to a maximum thickness of 1mm and with a restricted buoyancy effect. External aids for the swimmer, such as pain reduction or electro-stimulation, will also banned, while suits can no longer be customised for individuals.

"Fina reaffirms that it will continue monitoring the evolution of the sport equipment with the main objective of keeping the integrity of the sport," said a statement.

"Fina wishes to recall that the main and core principle is that swimming is a sport essentially based on the physical performance of the athlete."