High-tech records to stand

Jan 19, 2010
Swimming world records set in high-tech bodysuits over the past two years are to remain in the record books, the German swimming federation (DSV) said on Monday.
The DSV said the decision was made at a Bureaux meeting of the world governing body FINA last week in Bangkok.
“I think it’s generally the right decision to allow the records to stand. They were set under standard criteria and are in no way second-class records,” said German head coach Dirk Lange.
More than 100 world records were set in super-fast suits made of fabrics such as polyurethane between February 2008 and December 2009 before FINA banned the suits from January 1, 2010, onwards.
Under the new regulations, suits have to be made of textile materials with men’s suits going from the navel to the knee, and women’s suits from the shoulder to the knee.
The SwimNews.com website, meanwhile, said that FINA has not made a final ruling on the world record issue.
“SwimNews understands that the decision not to take any action is accompanied with a ‘pending further inquiry’ note: as the 2010 season pans out, the issue will return to FINA’s top table for consideration,” the SwimNews report said.