April 13, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 6, 1429

MANCHESTER, April 12: Top swimwear manufacturers are up in arms over a new space-age swimsuit its makers say has helped carve chunks off two dozen world records.

Speedo’s revolutionary LZR Racer suit has been approved by swimming’s world governing body FINA but rival manufacturers on Friday said it breached the sport’s rules on several counts, with outlawed materials used to enhance performance.

“It’s against the laws of the sport, everyone must follow the rules,” Francois Bertonazzi, global export manager for Italian swimwear manufacturer Diana, said.

“This is risky. If we continue in this direction, swimming will not be swimming anymore, it will be assisted swimming — a totally different sport.”

Twenty-four world records have been set since mid-February by swimmers using the new suit, while scores of others who have worn it have qualified for this year’s Olympics in Beijing.

Speedo says the suit, developed with the help of US space agency NASA, aids streamlining, minimises drag and reduces skin vibration and muscle oscillation.

However, rival manufacturers Adidas, Arena and Diana say the multiple layers and use of neoprene aid buoyancy and the suit’s rubber panels violate FINA’s laws on materials.

They say FINA has made an irrecoverable error by approving the high-tech bodysuit without proper scientific analysis.

“It’s impossible to go back on their decision — swimmers have set world records in this suit,” Bertonazzi added. “We don’t want rules changed just because a mistake has been made.”

—Reuters