What do you think about “technology dopping” in swimming competition?

jokoutomo,

In the first place, I feel that there is a little oversight on the "doping" part. Because, unlike performance enhancing drug doping which is hidden and inconspicuous, the swimsuit issue is already an open and known issue. And prior to the World Meet in Rome, swimmers all over the world are already suited up since the Beijing 2008 Olympics, with FINA being well aware and "neutral" about it. Besides, Adlington's British swim team were the very first to try these suits and were issued with these suits Individually Customized! Oh, let's not forget that she wore it during the Beijing Games and won.

I feel that she was making the statement in a very wrong and insensitive light of things. The suits are all available for every swimmer in the meet, now as you can see from the meets (Rome World Swimming Championships and Beijing Games) all the swimmers were given a choice to be suited up except for new entrants like Pakistan. So, how could it be unfair or even be considered doping, technologically speaking, that is? I do agree that there was not a single record holder and/or winner that was not suited up but let's not forget that the swimmers had a choice. Hence, in this light Adlington is just being vaguely irresponsible here, for her to make that statement. If she is true to her words, then I would really want to encourage her to surrender her Olympics medals she had won while wearing that suit (tailor made to her body specifications, if I may add here) in the Beijing Games.

In all fairness, I feel that everything needs to move forward and swimming is no exception. Look at the competition pools today, they are all constructed to be technically fast and for what? Well, other than the record breaking feats, I just cannot think of any other more valid reasons for the enhancing developments. So, the suits are just upcoming, where swimmers will no longer be bothered by the drag resistance from their own body hairs.

Now, having said this thus far, I feel that the suits are really not developed with any ill intentions. If you have followed the developments of these suits, I think you will agree with me that there is just one issue where people are finding it disturbing with the suits and that is giving the swimmers some added buoyancy. But, I do not think this was intentionally done on the part of Speedo, Arena, Jaked and other known swimwear companies. You see, the materials that are being used for the suits is unlike their predecessors and the companies only realized this after the suits were being put to test. Yet, as all aspects of competitive swimming is concerned, these suits were submitted for the approval of FINA which is the authorizing body. Did they reject? Did they disapprove? Well, I am sure, you know the answer here. So, how is it being unfair to be even considered as doping?

I feel that there is a lot of hype and concern here, because in this meet where the suits were dominantly used, an alarming 43 world records were being broken. Yet, there was not one swimmer not suited up with these latest suits and if I may add here - losers included. But, let me ask the floor (including you) here, was the meet exciting? Was it entertaining? Where do you think was the excitement? World records?

Swimming is still about one's devotion, discipline and hard work, without it not even a high tech suit could be and of help. It is not like some super hero comic character where the suit matters. For crying out loud, even our friendly neighborhood, Spidey (Spiderman) needs to be bitten by the right spider before he could become a super hero! Right?

So, Adlington if you are really true blue in your words here, then, may I suggest that you surrender your recent Games medals which you had won! Thank you and I rest my case.

"Technology doping" is a very harsh term which I believe should not be used when talking about the sport of swimming. It brings in too much negativity from the public, when people are already skeptical of the sport to begin with. The athletes are not "doping" by wearing the suits. Suit companies have been coming out with new-and-improved models of suits for decades, and any swimmer knows that he/she would be foolish to put themselves at a disadvantage by not keeping up with the times and wearing the latest suit.

With that being said, however, I am glad that the high-tech suits of 2008/2009 will be banned as of January 1, 2010. I agree with the decision because a line must be drawn when deciding what a competition suit and can cannot be made out of. The High-tech suits are made out of polyurethane, a material which boosts buoyancy and helps keep your core tight and compact, aiding your performance, both of which are supposed to be illegal according to the rules of competitive swimming.
In the years of 2008/2009, 38 out of the 40 long course swimming events (men and women total) have had their world records broken. In short course, 38 out of the 42 world records were broken in 2008/2009.

Number of Long Course world records set in the following Olympic Years (and 2009):
1972 - 53
1976 - 61 (Goggles are first allowed in competition)
1980 - 24
1984 - 24
1988 - 24
1992 - 16
1996 - 5
2000 - 33
2004 - 17
2008 - 55 (50% polyurethane suits are introduced)
2009 - 72 (100% polyurethane suits are introduced)


For example, the Women's 200 meter Butterfly. In 1981, Mary Meagher set the world record at 2:05.96 which at the time seemed like it was an untouchable mark. 19 years later in the year 2000, this world record was broken with a time of 2:05.81. 19 years for .15 of a second! Then, look forward to 2008, when the 50% polyurethane suits were introduced. Suddenly, a swimmer in a high-tech suit drops an enormous amount of time to set the new world at 2:04.18. Then, the exact same swimmer after making those drastic improvements, goes a 2:01.8 in 2009 in a 100% polyurethane suit!

Or look at the Men's 100 meter Breaststroke. For years, up until 2001, no one had ever broken the 1:00 barrier for this event. It was finally broken in 2001 with a time of 59.97. From then until 2006 the record steadily dropped to a 59.1, with all these swims being swum in a normal textile suit. (To this point, only three men had ever broken the 1 minute barrier.) Fast forward 3 years, and with the assistance of the high-tech suits, twenty-three men have broken the one minute barrier. A time which would once earn you Olympic gold in 2004 would no longer even qualify for semi-finals in 2009.

World Record Progression of the Women's 200 meter Medley:
1981 - 2:11.7
1992 - 2:11.6
1997 - 2:09.7 (This was later erased because of a failed doping test by this swimmer!)
2008 - 2:08.9
2008 - 2:08.4
2009 - 2:07.0
2009 - 2:06.1

What does all of this mean? The high-tech suits, while bringing media and public attention to swimming, were slowly ruining our sport. Setting a world record in previous years used to be an amazing accomplishment, and now, people don't even stand to applaud a world record because it's just not that special. This is not right. A world record should come from hard work and dedication, and should be greatly celebrated, it shouldn't be common-place.

A transition back to normal, textile suits, will not be easy. Swimmers who experienced huge time drops must now deal with the looming dilemma of going times in the next few years which may not please them, because there is no outside assistance. In addition, it will be many, many years before these new world records are broken. However, the move was in the best interest of swimming. It will help protect the dignity of the sport, and insure that everyone is on an even playing field.