Japanese swimmer Ryosuke Irie, whose 200-metre backstroke world record could be annulled over his controversial high-tech suit, says he will try to set a new record this weekend -- in a different suit.
"I want to aim for it because if I set a world record in an approved swimsuit, it will calm the swimsuit dispute, at least in Japan, at once," Irie told AFP on Monday ahead of the three-day Japan Open competition in Tokyo.
The Japan Open is a warm-up meet ahead of the world championships in Rome, which begin on July 18.
"I haven't decided which swimsuits I will wear," the 19-year-old Osaka student said. "But I will try different ones even at the Japan Open."
Irie set the backstroke record on May 10 in Australia in a suit developed by Japanese maker Descente, but swimming's world governing body FINA later called for modifications to be made to the suit.
FINA has yet to decide if it will annul world records set by swimmers wearing suits that were not on the approved list.
The Arena "X-Glide" and the "Jaked 01" -- polyurethane suits which were worn by French sprinters Alain Bernard and Frederic Bousquet respectively when they set new world records in April -- also did not appear on FINA's approved list.
"I hear that FINA's criteria for approval and disapproval of swimsuits are unclear," Irie said.
"It has left swimmers in trouble. I wish this problem will be quietened down as soon as possible and swimsuit rules set in stone."
The use of high-tech swimsuits has caused controversy, especially after Speedo's LZR Racer suit led swimmers to new records in the run-up to and during the Beijing Olympics last August.
Some experts and top swimmers believe they give users an unfair advantage in the pool.
In Canberra, Irie clocked 1min 52.86sec, slicing 1.08 seconds off the old 200m record set by American Ryan Lochte when he won gold in Beijing. Irie finished fifth in that race.
In the 100m, the Japanese was just 0.02 seconds off American Aaron Peirsol's world mark of 52.56secs.
Irie, who used to wear the LZR Racer, wore a pants-style suit covered with a rubber-like material from hip to ankle.
FINA instructed the manufacturers of swimsuits requiring modifications to resubmit corrected versions by June 19 for approval.
Source: AFP Asian Edition
