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Updated at 5:32 a.m., Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Olympics: FINA approves new swimsuits

Associated Press

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Several new high-tech swimsuits were approved Wednesday to compete with Speedo's record-breaking LZR Racer at the Beijing Olympics.

New bodysuits from Arena, Adidas and Mizuno were all given the go-ahead by swimming governing body FINA in an extraordinary meeting.

"They were all in order," FINA executive director Cornel Marculescu said by phone Wednesday from the International Olympic Committee meetings in Athens, Greece.

Since the Speedo LZR Racer was introduced in mid-February, swimmers wearing the suit have set 37 world records and rekindled the debate over whether technology has too much influence over the sport.

The final chance for new suits to be approved before the Aug. 8-24 Beijing Games will come June 30.

Italy coach Alberto Castagnetti has suggested the LZR suit amounts to "technological doping." American manufacturer TYR Sport sued Speedo last month, accusing the company of conspiring with the U.S. swimming federation to stifle competition and lure top American athletes away from other firms.

FINA has consistently upheld the legality of Speedo's space-age design, developed with the help of NASA.