The Divisions I, II and III Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Committees have said they will allow all technical swimsuits for the 2009 NCAA swimming and diving championships.

The statement comes in light of the recent proliferation of new models and designs of technical swimsuits that has prompted international bodies to begin discussing how to implement scientific measures to be used for approving swimsuits for future competition. The Fédération Internationale de Natation, or FINA, swimming’s international governing body, in fact recently decided to temporarily stop accepting applications for approval of such suits until matters could be clarified.

The NCAA committees said in September that all FINA-approved technical swimsuits would be allowed in intercollegiate competition, including NCAA championships. With FINA’s decision to suspend approvals, the committees have decided to accept all models.

The suits have been an issue since their emergence last year, particularly during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Many people cite the suits as contributing to increased speed, but to date no research exists to corroborate the anecdotal evidence, or as the committees’ statement says, conclude that they give the swimmer what could be defined as “illegal or inappropriate assistance.”

The NCAA swimming and diving committees have the authority to restrict equipment if it is deemed to be an “artificial aid.” Without the research to prove otherwise, the technical swimsuits were deemed compliant for all intercollegiate competition.

“Since the NCAA does not currently have the capability to test swimsuits, and since there seemingly is no discernible justification for treating any one technical suit differently from any other for purposes of use at intercollegiate competition, the committees have decided to permit all technical swimsuits for all 2009 NCAA swimming and diving championships,” the NCAA committees’ statement says.

The statement goes on to remind participating teams that, per NCAA Bylaw 12.5.4, the suits must comply with current logo restrictions that limit a manufacturer’s or distributor’s label or trademark to an area that doesn’t exceed 2¼ square inches. Suits also may not have more than one logo or trademark.

The committees’ action includes this year’s championships, but committee chair Tracy Huth, the athletics director at Oakland University, said the group will continue to monitor the situation and revisit the approval process for technical suits during the committees’ annual meetings.