FINA continues to keep a tight control over what equipment swimmers can use in competition. Today, the third day of olympic competition, FINA prevent on athlete from using a TYP cap and goggles that were not on the FINA approved list.
Minutes before his 200m butterfly heat at London Olympic Park’s Aquatic Centre yesterday, Joseph was told by an official his TYR cap and goggles were not on the list of approved equipment, forcing him to scramble for replacements.
The incident affected him so much he ended up posting a poor 1min 59.18sec – a far cry from his personal best of 1:56.67 – and missed out qualifying for the event’s semi-finals.
The incident provoked an angry response from Jessie Phua, Singapore’s Chef-de-Mission to the London Games, who has filed an official complaint to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC said it will pursue the matter with world swimming body FINA.