By David Riccio
December 21, 2008 12:00am
THE coach who pressured Swimming Australia into instigating moves to ban the controversial fast-suits believes their request to FINA has "missed the point’’ and not gone far enough.
Forbes Carlile, former coach of Olympic champion Shane Gould, was recognised last week by Swimming Australia as the man whose "mounting evidence, scientific research and information’’ finally led to official action.
Swimming Australia last week asked FINA to cease the approval of any further fast-suits and ban the use of more than one fast-suit at any one time. The fast-suits have also been banned from junior competition in Australia.
However, Carlile claimed Swimming Australia’s move was "flawed’‘. He said it would not change the opinion of many within the swimming community that the use of the suits was ``doping on a coathanger’'.
"I’m slightly pleased, but it’s moderate rapture,‘’ Carlile told The Sunday Telegraph.
"What I mean by that is there are very definite flaws in their approach. There’s been no solution. We’re on the way, but it’s notenough.‘’
From April next year, the fast-suits will not be allowed for any athletes under 18. But with 105 world records broken since February at the elite level, Carlile believes Swimming Australia is skirting the problem.
"All the trouble recently has been with elite swimming, not the age group swimmers,‘’ Carlile said.
"I don’t think I’m unruly to suggest that the controversy around the suits has been because of the world’s best swimmers using them and the records that have followed.
"They’ve (Swimming Australia) missed the point.‘’
Swimming Australia have also stated that men’s suits "must not extend above the waist or below the knees’'.
"But there is no mention of not having performance-aiding suits. No mention that the suits must go,‘’ Carlile said. "The number one criterion is that they must not aid performance. Those suits should also be prohibited. Within the swimming world, it’s been called doping on a coathanger _ and that’s exactly what it is.
"It is pure expediency from FINA to ensure its $5-6million from the swimsuit companies that they’ve got into bed with. Like doping, the advantage of the suits is with those with access to the latest and most up-to-date technology.
"It’s not an even playing field.‘’
Swimming Australia head coach Alan Thompson, also determined to preserve the sport’s credibility, said the impact of SA’s request to FINA would be determined at a meeting in March.
"I would support what FINA decides, but I don’t think we’re going to see ourselves go back to briefs and normal swimsuits for girls, I don’t think that is going to happen,‘’ Thompson said. "We’ve got to look at what the materials are made of.
"I think those things need to be addressed, the flotation of the material and the buoyancy of the material needs to be addressed.‘’