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AOC rules swimsuit legal
Posted: Friday April 28, 2000 12:01 PM
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- The Australian Olympic Committee had no alternative but to allow Australian swimmers to wear full-length bodysuits after classifying the swimsuits as special equipment. AOC president John Coates on Friday said he had clear evidence the bodysuits, manufactured by Australian team sponsor Speedo and rival adidas, had a positive effect on performance due to specialized characteristics of the equipment. "Faced with this incontrovertible evidence, we have decided that swimmers must be able to make their own choice ... assuming they are able and want to wear them," said Coates, leaving the decision to wear the bodysuit to individual swimmers. The launch of the neck-to-ankle bodysuits split Australian swimming ranks earlier this year, despite the fact the swimsuits had been sanctioned by FIA, the world swimming federation. The AOC subsequently applied to the Court of Arbitration for Sports for clarification to ensure the bodysuits conformed to FINA rules which prohibit any device that may aid a swimmer's speed, buoyancy or endurance. The AOC said it wanted to avoid possible legal challenges against performances of swimmers using the bodysuits by beaten rivals who wore conventional brief swimsuits. The AOC decision Friday to define the bodysuits as specialized equipment was independent of the CAS case. Swimmers will be permitted to use the bodysuits at the May 13-20 Australian Olympic selection trials at the Sydney International Aquatic Center.
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