Swimsuits row refuses to sink ahead of worlds

If swimming fans thought the row over revolutionary bodysuits was over, they can think again.

Top male swimmers are so frustrated by the controversy that they are even threatening to whip out their old trunks and trail in last if it means they keep their credibility.

Last month, swimming's world governing body FINA approved the new costumes after months of wrangling to try to create some clarity ahead of the Rome world championships, which start in three weeks.

Arguments over the suits, which have contributed to more than 100 world records in the past 18 months, have, however, intensified rather than died down since FINA's decision.

"It highlights the sport, these world records, but it's not good for the sport. It's become about the suit rather than the swimmer now," Britain's former multiple world-record holder Mark Foster told Reuters.

"These suits are going to help the not-so-good swimmers because they help them float better. But the better swimmers float better themselves, they've got a lot better technique and core stability.

"It's making the not-so-good swimmers better swimmers."

At the heart of the controversy are new suits which are covered with polyurethane to aid buoyancy. The old suits had only polyurethane plates.

SWIMMERS CONFUSED

The all-polyurethane Jaked 01, worn by Frederick Bousquet when he broke the 50 metres freestyle world record at the French championships in April, was left off a previous FINA list of approved costumes but featured in the latest update.

However, Alain Bernard's 100 metres freestyle record set at those championships, where he became the first man to crack the 47-second barrier with 46.94, has not been ratified because he was wearing an Arena suit which had not been approved.

The rulings have left swimmers confused.

World 100 freestyle champion Filippo Magnini almost made a stand at the Mediterranean Games in Pescara this week, where he finished second in the final behind Bernard.

"Right up to the last moment I thought about wearing just trunks in this final," the Italian told reporters.

"I didn't do it because of respect for the spectators. With trunks I would not have been competitive."

Bernard echoed his rival's comments about trunks but Foster said it was now impossible for the governing body to do a U-turn and rule that all bodysuits were illegal.

"I'd love it if we could go back to a pair of swimming trunks but it never will happen," he said at a Lloyds TSB event for children in London.

"They can't really go back now because of almost all the world records that have been done; it would take forever for people to break them again and it would make the sport look a mockery."

The Rome championships have already been beset by political and construction problems. The continuing suit controversy means the swimming, which takes place from July 26 to Aug. 2, is unlikely to be dull.

"I would not be surprised if there's a world record in every event, and that's down to the suit, not down to people swimming quicker, which is kind of sad," Foster added.

SPONSOR ROW

It is not just the general row over suits that is causing problems. Disagreements over sponsors' names and rival costumes have also muddied the waters.

Last year, Magnini split from the Arena manufacturers after doubting they could provide him with a competitive suit for August's Beijing Olympics, where he failed to reach the final in Speedo's LZR -- one of the first of the new breed of costumes.

The Italian swimming federation also ended its contract with Arena just before Beijing and now uses Jaked suits.

Italy's Federica Pellegrini, who reclaimed her 400 freestyle world record when winning gold at the Mediterranean Games in Pescara this week, covered up the logo on her Jaked costume because she is sponsored by Mizuno.

She was wearing Jaked rather than Mizuno because she was competing at the Games for Italy.

Jaked said it was unhappy with Pellegrini for hiding the brand but announced she could wear whichever suit she wanted in the future, pointing out she had just broken a world record in its costume.

The 20-year-old, who also holds the 200 world record, said she had acted as she did to avoid receiving a fine from either her sponsor or the Italian federation.

When told by the federation she would never receive a fine, Pellegrini told reporters: "I only want the freedom to choose. Will there really not be a fine? If they give me one, I'll let you know."