Larfaoui Ready To Look At Suit Rules
2008-04-09
Craig Lord
FINA President calls for celebration of athletes not suits; FINA to meet coaches to discuss the cluttered calendar; attack on Olympic Torch and 'attack on Olympism'

FINA president Mustapha Larfaoui appealed to the media today to celebrate swimmers and not their suits but the issues surrounding the Speedo LZR Racer will not go away until rules and processes of approval have been revisited.

Asked if there was still time to change the rules to suit the technology, Larfaoui said: 'If we have enough evidence, why not? I am not an expert on material on swimsuits. We have confidence in the experts. We are open to receive any expertise and then our responsibility is to see what we want to do ... I can't tell you what will be the decision [at the meeting on Saturday].'

Of the 19 world record (l/c) broken since February 16, 18 have been set by swimmers in the LZR. 'If there is improvement, it is welcome, this is our goal to improve our sport,' said Larfaoui. 'We are always happy for world records to be broken. Our only condition is that we need ask all the manufacturers when we approve swimsuits, this should be available for anybody .'

Italy head coach Alberto Castagnetti, from an Arena-backed nation, has described the LZR as 'technological doping'.

'We talk about technological doping, but really I'm concerned about the athletes,' responded Larfaoui. 'We are talking a lot about the swimsuits, but we're not talking about the athletes. The athletes are making a lot of effort and they are working every day very hard. We are in an Olympic year and everyone is trying to do their best.'

The President confirmed that FINA would meet coaches later in the year to seek advice about how best to change the competition calendar to ensure that the best swimmers turned up at the biggest meets, such as the world s/c championships. 'After the Olympic Games we will seek the opinions of all in that [coaching] community to find the best solution,' said Larfaoui.

Asked about the attacks on the Olympic Torch carried out by pro-Tibet protesters, he said: 'The Olympic torch is the property of the Olympic Movement and any attack on the torch is an attack on Olympism.'