This is very interesting:
swimswam.com/.../
What are people who bought one of these for USMS Nationals going to do? I'm sure Arena is going to offer to replace the suits, but with Nationals days away it's going to be tough to get a new one before the meet starts.
Arena, therefore, advised FINA of its decision to withdraw the approval codes of concerned POWERSKIN Carbon-Pro models:
AR220993 – woman full body open back
AR220994 – woman full body closed back
AR141364 – man jammer
Consequently, as of May 7 onwards, all POWERSKIN Carbon-Pro suits to be used in FINA sanctioned events will have the following approval codes:
AR221039 – woman full body open back
AR221028 – woman full body closed back
AR141028 – man jammer
If the suits are not legal they should not be allowed at Nationals, period. I don't care when they were bought. An illegal item that gives you a competitive advantage should not be grandfathered in. If I buy a fancy new golf club and play with in a tourney and it is deemed illegal my score does not count. The same should be true of any competition with a governing body. As a coach I would certainly argue this case for my swimmers if they lose a spot to someone in an illegal suit.
Arena makes good looking suits and they have come aggressively back into the US market. I think they are the title sponsor for the Grand Prix series. But, your product has to be legal.
We all wore FINA illegal suits in Atlanta in 2010, though you make a good point. Arena better be handing out free replacement suits like candy if they want to preserve their market share and customer goodwill.
I will not wear an illegal suit. I am purchasing a new LZR Elite tomorrow as a back up; I have one on hold already. I am emailing the vendor in advance about the Arena suits that I need replaced.
Unless USMS sends out an update to all entrants, there will be people wearing illegal suits because they have no clue about the ban.
If the suits are not legal they should not be allowed at Nationals, period. I don't care when they were bought. An illegal item that gives you a competitive advantage should not be grandfathered in. If I buy a fancy new golf club and play with in a tourney and it is deemed illegal my score does not count. The same should be true of any competition with a governing body. As a coach I would certainly argue this case for my swimmers if they lose a spot to someone in an illegal suit.
Arena makes good looking suits and they have come aggressively back into the US market. I think they are the title sponsor for the Grand Prix series. But, your product has to be legal.
We all wore FINA illegal suits in Atlanta in 2010, though you make a good point. Arena better be handing out free replacement suits like candy if they want to preserve their market share and customer goodwill.
I will not wear an illegal suit. I am purchasing a new LZR Elite tomorrow as a back up; I have one on hold already. I am emailing the vendor in advance about the Arena suits that I need replaced.
Unless USMS sends out an update to all entrants, there will be people wearing illegal suits because they have no clue about the ban.
