The reintroduction of a ban on a controversial new breed of swimsuit could throw the sport back two decades, an executive from leading manufacturer Speedo has said.
Critics of suits made from materials like polyurethane, which can potentially trap air against the body, say they should be banned. The controversy has hung over this weekend’s FINA World Championships in Rome.
Jason Rance, vice president of marketing at England-based Speedo International, told the Reuters news agency that a forced return to all-textile briefs for men, as proposed by swimming’s world governing body FINA, on Friday, would be “a retrograde step”.
"My analogy would be next year at Wimbledon Federer and Nadal are about to start a game and you say, 'Hang on a minute, mate. Give me your nice carbon graphite racquet, here's a cane one from back in 1990. Have a good game,'" said Rance.
