USA Swimming Proposes Legislation Restricting Suit Technology, President Jim Wood Responds

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, November 24. SWIMMING World has acquired a copy of a FINA legislation proposal from USA Swimming asking for swimsuit technology to be restricted.

Here is the actual verbiage as proposed by USA Swimming:

GR 5 SWIMWEAR
GR 5.3 USA Fed. In swimming competitions the competitor must wear only one swimsuit in one or two pieces which shall not ~~extend beyond the ankles, the wrists and the neck~~ cover the neck, extend past the shoulder, nor past the knee. No additional items, like arm bands or leg bands shall be regarded as parts of a swimsuit.

GR 5.6 USA Fed. The manufacturers must ensure that the approved new swimsuit will be available for all competitors for 12 months prior to the Olympic Games.

"The reasoning being the proposal to FINA is that we are asking them to slow down the approval process for new suits, and speak to coaches and manufacturers on how the approval process can be more scientifically defined," USA President Jim Wood told Swimming World. "Our legislation provides several ideas that might make the new suit approval process going forward fairer for everybody. I would also like to applaud FINA for sitting down with all involved in February. Hopefully, they will be having an open discussion with everyone regarding the steps of the approval process."

This proposal will be considered during the 2009 World Championships held in Rome, Italy.

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