The slick new swimsuit that has led to more than 12 world records already this year will be examined by swimming's world governing body amid debate about the quest for speed in the pool.
"There are concerns about suits being like triathlon suits, which are thicker," FINA executive director Cornel Marculsecu was quoted as saying by SwimNews.com on Monday. "There are buoyancy issues. We have to review this."
There have been 13 world records set since the middle of last month, 12 in the LZR Racer, a full-length body swimsuit made by Speedo.
Federica Pellegrini of Italy ended the one-brand exclusivity on Monday night, lowering the record for the 400m freestyle in a new Arena outfit.
Marculsecu said the suit would be discussed at the world short course championships in Manchester, England, next month.
French swimmer Alain Bernard was wearing the LZR suit when he broke three world records in three nights at the European championships -- twice in the 100 freestyle and also the 50 freestyle.
FINA approved the US$550 suit, which is made of extremely lightweight, water repellant fabric -- electronically bonded rather than sewn together -- with special panels to reduce drag.
Bernard has an individual deal with Speedo but his French team is linked to a rival swimwear company and has called for an inquiry into the suit.
"I think it deserves a real debate. It's even worth being analyzed by an ethical committee," French swimming federation technical director Claude Fauquet said.
Speedo also launched a new suit before the world championships in Australia last year.
"At the Melbourne world championships, 11 records fell in four days and there was no call for that suit to be banned," Rob Davies, general manager of Speedo Australia, said on Monday in a telephone interview. "It is FINA approved. It is available to everyone."
The increasing use of such suits has led some swimmers to question the growing importance of technology in competition.
"It is going to be a technological battle come the Olympics," South African swimmer Roland Schoeman said at the launch of the Powerskin R-evolution suit by Speedo's rival Arena -- and worn on Monday night by Pellegrini.
"It would be great to see the final of the Olympics just be basically people and their talent, like Popov when he was just swimming in his briefs," said Schoeman, the world 50m butterfly champion. "That is true testament to an individual's work ethic and ability -- more than the suit to help correct any imperfections."
Alexander Popov swam in traditional briefs. The Russian's long-standing 50m freestyle world record was broken last month by Eamon Sullivan of Australia, who was wearing the Speedo suit. Bernard lowered it again on Sunday night.
But Schoeman acknowledged a change was unlikely.
"It would be like Tiger Woods going to Nike and saying, `I want to go back to a wooden driver,'" Schoeman said.
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