Having recently thanked its official partners during the 13th FINA World Championships in Rome, FINA, the world governing body for swimming, has confirmed that it shall ban full-body swimsuits from FINA competitions in 2010.
FINA’s sponsor partners during the 2009 World Championships were: Nikon, the renowned digital camera and optical equipment manufacturer; Yakult, the probiotic drinks company; leading watch maker Omega; Myrtha Pools / Piscine Castiglione for swimming pools and filtration equipment; and Speedo, the swimwear and sports apparel giant.
“We are delighted by the contribution made by all of FINA’s Official Partners to these FINA World Championships in Rome and grateful to all of them not only for this contribution to these Championships but also for their continued support of FINA and the aquatic sports through their own promotional and marketing activities. Moreover, we thank all the Italian partners that were successfully associated with this competition,” stated FINA Executive Director Cornel Marculescu.
The 2010 ban on the use of polyurethane swimsuits means that only ‘allowable textiles’ will be permitted. Although, that term is not precisely defined, according to a report by the BBC.
Jason Rance, Vice President of Marketing at Speedo International, told Reuters in late July that a forced return to all-textile briefs for men, as proposed by FINA, would be “a retrograde step”.
"My analogy would be next year at Wimbledon, Federer and Nadal are about to start a game and you say, ‘Hang on a minute, mate. Give me your nice carbon graphite racquet, here’s a cane one from back in 1990. Have a good game,’" Rance added.
As announced by the FINA Bureau in early August, a Commission led by Professor Jan-Anders Manson (from EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland) and formed by scientific experts and an athlete’s representative was appointed to control the swimwear approval process and to monitor the development of the swimsuit industry. This will be based on the rules established by the FINA Bureau and the measurable scientific tests on buoyancy and permeability.
More to follow from FINA in the coming months!
