Dear USMS Membership,
The Executive Committee met this week and discussed the recent FINA news release. USMS does abide by FINA policies however we recognize that there is much confusion with interpreting and applying the FINA release. In response and until further suit policy clarification is provided by FINA, USMS Board President Rob Copeland issued the following statement. Additionally, the USMS Rules Committee will be meeting on May 31st as they monitor the situation, any new information made available, and the implications it could have on USMS sanctioned events.
Rob Butcher
Executive Director
To: Kathy Kasey, Rules Committee Chair
Marcia Cleveland, Long Distance Committee Chair
Date: May 20, 2009
At this point in time no suits should be listed as banned by U.S. Masters Swimming for pool or open water swimming.
While FINA has listed the 202 approved swimsuits, FINA has NOT listed the 10 suits that have been “rejected for not passing the tests of buoyancy and/or thickness” or made a ruling on the “136 swimsuits to be modified in accordance with “Dubai Charter”." Until FINA provides the definitive list of banned swimsuits and specific actions on the 136, we should not report any suit as banned in a USMS sanctioned event.
If you hear anything from FINA in contradiction to this statement, please inform me as soon as possible. The list of FINA approved suits can be found at: www.fina.org/.../index.php. The FINA press release can be found at: www.fina.org/.../index.php
Rob Copeland
President - United States Masters Swimming
My opinion is that FINA's list is a copout. They've come out with a list of approved suits, but with no guidance on what this list means. Are suits NOT on the list automatically out? What about older suits? Who will enforce this? I think the onus is on FINA to answer these basic questions.
I'm with you, Kirk. FINA has not been exhaustive and clear on their new rules. An implication of this list as being the only list of approved suits is that every swimmer, from my 6 year old* swimming a USAS No Time Standard meet up to the likes of Phelps and Knutson, can ONLY compete in one of these suits.
* Call me crazy, but I much prefer the $6 suit I picked up for my daughter on sale at Sports Authority versus getting her even a Speedo Aquablade (one of the "cheaper" suits on the approved list).
My opinion is that FINA's list is a copout. They've come out with a list of approved suits, but with no guidance on what this list means. Are suits NOT on the list automatically out? What about older suits? Who will enforce this? I think the onus is on FINA to answer these basic questions.
I'm with you, Kirk. FINA has not been exhaustive and clear on their new rules. An implication of this list as being the only list of approved suits is that every swimmer, from my 6 year old* swimming a USAS No Time Standard meet up to the likes of Phelps and Knutson, can ONLY compete in one of these suits.
* Call me crazy, but I much prefer the $6 suit I picked up for my daughter on sale at Sports Authority versus getting her even a Speedo Aquablade (one of the "cheaper" suits on the approved list).
