This description is inherited directly from USA Swimming rules:
The USA Swimming Rules & Regulations Committee issued an interpretation back in 1999:
Until FINA determines otherwise, ...
Fina has determined otherwise, the correction to the fina handbook for 2005 - 2009 states
"GR 5 SWIMWEAR
GR 5.5 Before any swimsuit of new design, construction or material is used in competition, the manufacturer of such swimsuit must submit the swimwear to FINA and obtain approval of FINA."
Given the interpretation you gave, USMS needs to update its rules to follow the FINA rules.
I have been asking about this for a couple of months now. The wetsuit manufacturers are now coming out with "swim skins" meant to be worn at races where triathletes cannot wear wetsuits. These suits are oftan made of a buoyant material, just less of the buoyancy than wetsuits. Now ehtehr they should be allowed at a triathlon is another question.
But since these are now on the market, it is only a matter of time until they start showing up at start lines or starting blocks.
So when someone shows up at a race with one of these on what rule do you use to DQ them? The only thing I see is that the suit needs to conform to "the appropriate." So you can say that this new speed skin is not appropriate.
Fina has decided that rather than set rules that would be exploited, nothing is approved for competition until they say it is approved. I think this is the only decision that can stand technically. However administration would be problematic, has your swimsuit been approved by Fina? Has the swimsuit you have been wearing in competition for three years been approved?
I asked Marcia about this and I don't think I ever explained the situation adequately for her to see what I was on about.
This description is inherited directly from USA Swimming rules:
The USA Swimming Rules & Regulations Committee issued an interpretation back in 1999:
Until FINA determines otherwise, ...
Fina has determined otherwise, the correction to the fina handbook for 2005 - 2009 states
"GR 5 SWIMWEAR
GR 5.5 Before any swimsuit of new design, construction or material is used in competition, the manufacturer of such swimsuit must submit the swimwear to FINA and obtain approval of FINA."
Given the interpretation you gave, USMS needs to update its rules to follow the FINA rules.
I have been asking about this for a couple of months now. The wetsuit manufacturers are now coming out with "swim skins" meant to be worn at races where triathletes cannot wear wetsuits. These suits are oftan made of a buoyant material, just less of the buoyancy than wetsuits. Now ehtehr they should be allowed at a triathlon is another question.
But since these are now on the market, it is only a matter of time until they start showing up at start lines or starting blocks.
So when someone shows up at a race with one of these on what rule do you use to DQ them? The only thing I see is that the suit needs to conform to "the appropriate." So you can say that this new speed skin is not appropriate.
Fina has decided that rather than set rules that would be exploited, nothing is approved for competition until they say it is approved. I think this is the only decision that can stand technically. However administration would be problematic, has your swimsuit been approved by Fina? Has the swimsuit you have been wearing in competition for three years been approved?
I asked Marcia about this and I don't think I ever explained the situation adequately for her to see what I was on about.
