FINA outlaws modest suits
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 20, 2009 00:00
SYDNEY - The International Swimming Federation, or FINA, weighed in on a row over hi-tech swimsuits yesterday, declaring swimmers cannot wear anything at all under their costume to protect their modesty.
The move comes after Swede Therese Alshammar was stripped of a world record. She slammed the decision, declaring the rules sexist.
Officials at the Australian Swimming Championships had said women were allowed to wear bikini bottoms for modesty purposes but not a full suit because it may provide extra buoyancy in the pool.
However, Swimming Australia spokesman Ian Hanson said FINA had contacted the organisation to say swimmers were not permitted to wear anything under the main swimsuit. "Unfortunately, we can't change the rules mid-meet," Hanson told AFP.
FINA this month adopted new rules on new hi-tech swimsuits, the wearing of which led to 105 world records being set in 2008.
Officials at the Australian Swimming Championships had said women were allowed to wear bikini bottoms for modesty purposes but not a full suit because it may provide extra buoyancy in the pool.
However, Swimming Australia spokesman Ian Hanson said FINA had contacted the organisation to say swimmers were not permitted to wear anything under the main swimsuit. "Unfortunately, we can't change the rules mid-meet," Hanson told AFP.
FINA this month adopted new rules on new hi-tech swimsuits, the wearing of which led to 105 world records being set in 2008.