There's been a reference already to this, but USA Swimming's Rules & Regulations Committee issued its long awaited interpretation of the FINA suit list.
Since this is a modification to USA Swimming Article 102, the rule change is so amended in USMS rules effective immediately, unless it is painfully rejected or modified (USMS 601.4.7B). That being said, they may choose to state the rest of this differently or interpret it differently, plus the minor issue of how you enforce this.
On May 19, 2009, FINA issued a list of swimsuits approved for competition. The approved list, which was effective immediately and is attached, includes 202 swimsuits. The Rules and Regulations Committee, under the provisions of Article 511.1, has the authority to alter or amend any provision of Part One of our rules to conform to the rules of FINA. Accordingly, effective immediately, Article 102.9 is amended as follows:
102.9.1A: Only swimwear approved by FINA, as reflected on its published list of approved swimwear, may be worn in any USA Swimming sanctioned or approved competition.
(Existing subsections A, B, and C of Article 102.9.1 shall be redesignated as subsections B, C and D, respectively.)
Since the FINA approved list only addressed new model swimsuits submitted by swimsuit manufacturers, swimmers will, until otherwise directed by FINA, also be able to wear traditional swimsuits not on the FINA approved list as long as the swimsuit meets the following criteria:
1. For female swimmers, the swimsuit shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulders or past the pelvis, and
2. For male swimmers, the swimsuit shall not extend above the navel or below the knees.
In addition to the 202 approved swimsuits on the attached FINA list, there were an additional 136 swimsuits that could be resubmitted to FINA for reconsideration and possible approval. The expected decision date for such approval is June 19, 2009. At such time as FINA publishes any list of additional swimsuits approved for competition, those additional swimsuits will also be approved for USA Swimming sanctioned or approved competitions.
(remainder snipped because it applies to World Championship Trials only)
So it looks like you can wear your 15 year old The Finals suit in the relative safety that it complies with the rules.
Patrick King
In response to this ..... "If amendments to USA Swimming articles 101 and 102are adopted between the annual meetings of the House of Delegates, the corresponding portions of Part 1 shall automatically be adopted by USMS, except that such amendments may be altered, amended, repealed or changed
by a nine-tenths vote of the Rules Committee and a majority vote of
the Executive Committee."
The USMS Rules Committee had a meeting this past Sunday evening and we had a 9/10 vote to take a position on USA-Swimming's new rule that was released today. It is now at the USMS Executive Committee's meeting tonight for a vote. So a formal statement will be forthcoming likely tomorrow AM about USMS' reaction to the new rule. USMS does not automatically accept all changes that USA-S makes and we do decide on them individually.
Thank you. If USMS decides not to accept the USA-S change, I hope USMS will provide guidance, as some have asked, on the issue of whether times swum in a USMS-approved but not FINA-approved suit (e.g., B70, Renegade) will count for FINA ranking purposes.
As an illustration of how confusing this is, the Speedo web site FastSkin suit model numbers DID NOT match any of the FINA numbers. If I take that literally, that means none of the suits currently listed for sale by Speedo are legal.
Just received this email from Aquatimax
Hi George,
Yes, all of the Yingfa swimsuits we sell comply to the below charter.
Rgds -- Eric Eldridge
Aquatimax
My email to them -
Can you tell me are YingFa swim suits legal to use in Fina meets re the Dubai Charter???.
Fina PDF www.fina.org/.../the dubai charter.pdf
The USMS Rules Committee had a meeting this past Sunday evening and we had a 9/10 vote to take a position on USA-Swimming's new rule that was released today. It is now at the USMS Executive Committee's meeting tonight for a vote. So a formal statement will be forthcoming likely tomorrow AMThis is not “THE” formal statement, just an update FYI…
The USMS Executive Committee met this evening and voted to not follow the new USA Swimming swimwear rule. Or in the nomenclature of our rule we voted to repeal the swimwear provision.
This means that the current interpretation of the Rules Committee stands, which is:
“FINA approval or rejection of new swimsuits introduced after September 30, 2007, will be accepted by U.S. Masters Swimming for USMS sanctioned and recognized competition. ” The 202 suits approved by FINA and the 136 that are to be retested are still considered legal. The 10 suits that failed FINA testing are considered illegal. Legal suits introduced before 09/30/07 are still legal, without needing to be on the FINA approval list.
.
Times achieved in USMS legal suits may be submitted for FINA top 10 and records. The FINA Masters records chair will continue to accept record applications as he does today and will continue to do so until such time as FINA directs him to do otherwise. Unfortunately I can’t be any more definitive than this, since FINA records are under the jurisdiction of FINA, not USMS.
Just received this email from Aquatimax
Hi George,
Yes, all of the Yingfa swimsuits we sell comply to the below charter.
Rgds -- Eric Eldridge
AquatimaxNote: while the manufacturer may state that the suit complies with the Dubai Charter, if it is not on the FINA approved list it is NOT legal for USA Swimming AND if it is not on the FINA approved nor on the FINA retest list it may not be legal for USMS. Other governing bodies outside the USA may vary.:confused:
This is not “THE” formal statement, just an update FYI…
Times achieved in USMS legal suits may be submitted for FINA top 10 and records. The FINA Masters records chair will continue to accept record applications as he does today and will continue to do so until such time as FINA directs him to do otherwise. Unfortunately I can’t be any more definitive than this, since FINA records are under the jurisdiction of FINA, not USMS.
Rob, thank you for making this point - and we should all consider ourselves warned in advance. If I understand you correctly, it is to say "Wearer beware - if you want your meters (SCM or LCM) times to count for FINA World masters rankings or records - you have to decide if it is worth the risk of wearing a suit that is not on FINA's approved list; it may or MAY NOT be accepted by FINA..."
here's an article
USA Swimming Amends Rules Regarding Swimsuits
June 1, 2009
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, June 1. FOLLOWING the ruling by FINA on May 19, 2009, regarding approval of swimsuits for international competition, USA Swimming's Rules and Regulations Committee has announced an amendment to rule 102.9, covering swimsuits at USA Swimming competitions. The committee has also outlined specific rules applying to swimsuits allowed at the 2009 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships and World Championship Trials and 2009 Open Water Word Championship Trials. These amendments are designed to provide consistency with the rules as established by FINA.
Effective June 1, 2009, swimmers competing in USA Swimming-sanctioned or approved competitions will be governed by the following rules.
Only swimwear approved by FINA, as reflected on its published list of approved swimwear, may be worn in any USA Swimming sanctioned or approved competition.
Additionally, since the FINA-approved list only addresses "new model" swimsuits submitted by swimsuit manufacturers, swimmers will, until otherwise directed by FINA, also be able to wear traditional swimsuits provided the suits meet the following criteria:
1. For female swimmers, the swimsuit shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulders or past the pelvis, and
2. For male swimmers, the swimsuit shall not extend above the navel or below the knees.
There are currently 202 suits on the FINA-approved list. If and when FINA approves additional suits, those suits will also be allowed in USA Swimming competition.
At the 2009 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships and World Championship Trials, and the 2009 Open Water World Championship Trials, the following rules apply, in addition to the above.
Only those permitted swimsuit models that are available to all competitors may be used. To avoid confusion, availability is defined as follows:
1. The swimsuit manufacturer is present at the event with its approved swimsuits available for all competitors on a purchase, loan, give-away or other basis, or
2. The swimsuit manufacturer has provided to USA Swimming a written representation in the form requested by USA Swimming, that its approved swimsuit will be made available before July 7, 2009 to all World Championship Trials competitors and before June 14, 2009 to all Open Water World Championship Trials competitors on a purchase, loan, or giveaway basis through retail stores, the internet, or other means.
USA Swimming will publish a list of swimsuit manufacturers who have made this representation once they are received. Competitors may rely on this list as approval to wear a particular swimsuit model at either event.
from: Swimming World Magazine
I could have sworn at some point I saw wording about suits needing to be one-piece. If so, sadly, that rules out your bikini!
edit: just checked the current Fina wording and I was wrong unless it has been subsequently changed:
"GR 5.3 In swimming competitions the competitor must wear swimsuit in one or two pieces which shall not extend beyond the ankles, the wrists and the neck. No additional items, like arm bands or leg bands shall be regarded as parts of a swimsuit."
Perhaps we should revisit the last great tech suit debate from 20 years ago:
I could have sworn at some point I saw wording about suits needing to be one-piece. If so, sadly, that rules out your bikini!
edit: just checked the current Fina wording and I was wrong unless it has been subsequently changed:
"GR 5.3 In swimming competitions the competitor must wear swimsuit in one or two pieces which shall not extend beyond the ankles, the wrists and the neck. No additional items, like arm bands or leg bands shall be regarded as parts of a swimsuit."
Guess I ought to start testing out my bikini starts! At least if I don't like my times I can blame it on the drag from the strings.:D
