A number of hi-tech swimsuits have been approve by the world swimming body FINA on Monday, according to a statement from FINA as quoted by French media.
According to the source, 'X-Glide' and 'Jaked 01' were passed the FINA's approval among 200 new designs of the controversial racing suits approved, which means French swimmers Alain Bernard and Frederic Bousquet are now likely to stand with their world records.
Bernard set a new 100m world record of 46.94 seconds at the French championships in Montpellier in April when wearing part-polyurethane 'X-Glide'.
Bousquet, wearing the most controversial suits all-polyurethane 'Jaked 01', beat Australian swim machine Eamon Sullivan's world record of 21.28 in 50m in a time of 20.94 seconds.
FINA decided to review 384 suits from 21 manufacturers due to the growing controversy after more than 100 world records were broken within 18 months. 136 suits were sent back to manufacturers for modifications.
In the statement, FINA explained it would need more time to study the "complex" evidence of in-use "air tapping", which helps speed up and caused the controversy of unfair advantage in the water.
"To secure a level-playing field, the swimming suits approved will be available to all swimmers at the world championships in Rome," said FINA in the statement, stressed it "will continue the process of controlling the evolution of swimsuits and will issue new rules including new criteria for 2010."
The world championships in Rome will be held on July 26 to August 2.
(Xinhua News Agency June 23, 2009)
