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
This topic doesn't really impact me, but I always find it interesting how the various swimming organizations as well as swimmers handle the tech suit situation.
It seems entirely clear at this point that FINA is the most incompetent sports organizations on earth (and they have lots of competition). I don't know how to change FINA, but something should be done because FINA is not a steward of our sport.
USMS' decision seems a bit silly, but I guess if you are out to set a world record just make sure you do it in a FINA approved suit. For those not out to set world records it seems like USMS' decision probably saves it members some money and grief for now. When USMS does go with the FINA list is there going to be a referee looking at each person's tech suit to see if it is on the banned list or is it going to be policed by swimmers or only when a record/top ten is set? I can see why USMS doesn't want this debate going on at meets right now given the lack of clarity. I can't wait to see someone being pulled off the blocks or DQed for wearing a banned suit or some similar incident even if it is totally innocent by the wearer - I think that will be great for the sport.
Tim
This topic doesn't really impact me, but I always find it interesting how the various swimming organizations as well as swimmers handle the tech suit situation.
It seems entirely clear at this point that FINA is the most incompetent sports organizations on earth (and they have lots of competition). I don't know how to change FINA, but something should be done because FINA is not a steward of our sport.
USMS' decision seems a bit silly, but I guess if you are out to set a world record just make sure you do it in a FINA approved suit. For those not out to set world records it seems like USMS' decision probably saves it members some money and grief for now. When USMS does go with the FINA list is there going to be a referee looking at each person's tech suit to see if it is on the banned list or is it going to be policed by swimmers or only when a record/top ten is set? I can see why USMS doesn't want this debate going on at meets right now given the lack of clarity. I can't wait to see someone being pulled off the blocks or DQed for wearing a banned suit or some similar incident even if it is totally innocent by the wearer - I think that will be great for the sport.
Tim
