FINA ban controversial suit

FINA, swimming's world governing body, voted on Friday to outlaw the polyurethane suits which have seen world record times fall dramatically. But the ban will not come into effect until 2010, leaving competitors at the World Championships which start on Sunday at the Foro Italico in an ethical no-man's land.

Scott welcomed the move, saying: "I am totally delighted for a return to textiles. The sport will regain its credibility with a lot of people. It is the only way to go."

Questions about the suits were banned from Friday's British press conference so the likes of double Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington and Games medallists David Davies and Jo Jackson had to look to next week's event without referring to what is the biggest issue in the sport and what directly affects them and their prospects.

So when Davies predicted every world record could come under threat, the subtext it was as a result of the technological advances of the suits could not be expressed.

In Sunday's 400 metres freestyle, Adlington will wear the partial polyurethane Speedo LZR suit while compatriot Jackson will opt for all-polyurethane adidas Hydrofoil.

Germany's double Olympic title-holder Britta Steffen plans to don the adidas Hydrofoil in which she slashed the 100m freestyle world record despite saying it should be banned.

Scott addressed the issue afterwards and claimed the swimmers had been talking about it "ad nauseum" and "now we're here in Rome it is about time we talked about why we are here and that is the athletes".

Scott added: "If my understanding is true then January 1 it is back to textiles and then today is the day we start to move forward in swimming again."

The move follows FINA's amendment on Thursday to ban anything that aids buoyancy, speed and endurance.