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.
Well yes, but that doesn't bind directly on USMS, although USA Swimming and USMS will automatically modify their rules when FINA makes a change.
The problem is that the swimwear rule isn't the issue--it's the buoyant substance in the suit (see, FINA SW 10.7, USA-S 102.10.10, USMS 102.15.9). But you bring up a valid point--you can't just look at suits anymore to see if they're overly buoyant. If I'm at a meet, and I'm officiating, am I going to make you take off your suit to make that assessment? And at 2 or 3 judge meets, where you already have a lot on your plate to begin with, this is easily something that can slide through the gaps. But Jayhawk made the best point to solve this--if you see something you aren't sure about, or think is problematic (with you or with someone else), bring it to the attention of the referee. That's what they're there for.
But back to GR 5.5, the plain text of the USA Swimming rules doesn't incorporate FINA preapproval (see Article 102.9 of the 2007 USA Swimming Mini Rulebook). I would presume that their position is that a FINA legal suit is a USA Swimming legal suit. I would still conclude that a neoprene wet suit being illegal from the original 1999 interpretation is still the rule today.
Patrick King
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.
Well yes, but that doesn't bind directly on USMS, although USA Swimming and USMS will automatically modify their rules when FINA makes a change.
The problem is that the swimwear rule isn't the issue--it's the buoyant substance in the suit (see, FINA SW 10.7, USA-S 102.10.10, USMS 102.15.9). But you bring up a valid point--you can't just look at suits anymore to see if they're overly buoyant. If I'm at a meet, and I'm officiating, am I going to make you take off your suit to make that assessment? And at 2 or 3 judge meets, where you already have a lot on your plate to begin with, this is easily something that can slide through the gaps. But Jayhawk made the best point to solve this--if you see something you aren't sure about, or think is problematic (with you or with someone else), bring it to the attention of the referee. That's what they're there for.
But back to GR 5.5, the plain text of the USA Swimming rules doesn't incorporate FINA preapproval (see Article 102.9 of the 2007 USA Swimming Mini Rulebook). I would presume that their position is that a FINA legal suit is a USA Swimming legal suit. I would still conclude that a neoprene wet suit being illegal from the original 1999 interpretation is still the rule today.
Patrick King
