HAVING DELIBERATED the legality of polyurethane-coated swimming suits for more than six months, Fina came perilously close to making a decision on the matter that is dividing the sport yesterday. Swimming’s governing body said a definitive verdict could be expected on July 28th, some 10 days into a world championships which have been marred by the controversy.
“Fina has made a big step forward,” said the president, Dr Julio Maglione. “The congress of nations has unanimously decided to accept the decision of the executive bureau.”
Fina’s executive director, Cornel Marculescu, confirmed that decision would involve “less swimsuit, not more” and that “only textiles” would be used. That definition would likely exclude the polyurethane used in both Speedo’s LZR and the range of next generation outfits made by Jaked and Adidas. The new regulations will come into effect on January 1st, 2010.
Asked whether Fina accepted any responsibility for the fiasco resulting from their indecision – it has already ruled the suits illegal once, only to reverse the decision on appeal – Marculescu responded: “The more important issue is the future, the past we cannot change.” Fina revealed the world records set by swimmers wearing the new suits were unlikely to be retrospectively erased, but conceded that a caveat may be added to the times.
Michael Scott, performance director for the UK squad, was equally effusive. “I’m delighted,” said Scott, “By returning to textiles the sport will regain its credibility with a lot of people. If my understanding is correct and from January 1st it’s back to textiles, then today is the day we start to move forward.”
Scott has imposed a ban on the media asking questions of his athletes about the suits in an attempt to protect the team from further distraction. “It’s been a frustrating and confusing time for swimmers,” he said. “Let’s make no mistake about it.
“The suit debate has overshadowed the commitment that they make,” he said.
Multiple Olympic champion Michael Phelps echoed those sentiments, saying that while he “liked the decision” he was “not here to talk about swimsuits, I’m here to compete. If you’re ever going to do that at a consistently high level, it will be because of the hard work you have done in training. A swimsuit is just a swimsuit.”
Citing neck pain, he pulled out of the 100m freestyle heats in the US, but is set to compete in the 100m and 200m butterfly, as well as the 200m freestyle in Rome as well as the men’s relays.
Ireland’s team of 13 swimmers get into action tomorrow, with seven set to compete in individual events,including Andrew Bree and Barry Murphy in the men’s 100m breastroke and two Irish squads in the men’s and women’s 4 x 100m freestyle relays.
Guardian Service
