USA Swimming bans high-tech bodysuits, effective Oct. 1

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USA Swimming, meeting in Chicago, voted to impose an early ban on the controversial high-tech bodysuits. The ban will start Oct. 1.

FINA, the international governing body of swimming, is poised to implement the same measures, but not until the start of 2010.

‘As an organization, we have been working with FINA and other swimming nations to find a solution that will ensure a fair and even playing field for all swimmers, and that will ultimately advance the best interests of our sport,’ said USA Swimming’s executive director, Chuck Wielgus, said in a statement.

Today’s action came at the organization’s yearly convention.
Guess Shaquille O’Neal won’t have the chance to wear the high-tech suit should Michael Phelps ever grant him a rematch, assuming Shaq’s reality show lives to survive another season.

Kidding aside, the high-tech suits threatened the integrity of the sport and made a mockery of the record book this summer at the World Championships in Rome. There were 43 world records in Rome, most of them coming in the water-resistant body suits.

-- Lisa Dillman