It is impossible to understand the decision FINA has made on controversial swimsuits.
They will be banned from competition use from January 1, 2010 - but they will be legally used in the coming World Swimming Championships in Rome - and all records broken with their use in the past will remain in force.
That's a bit like saying that drugs will be banned from future Olympics, but any competitors stripped of medals for past drug use will have their win reinstated.
We just dudded all future swimmers from any hope of breaking a world record for the next half century. A plethora of records were broken by swimmers using the soon to be banned swimsuits - and those records will hold.
The huge advantage these suits conferred will be unavailable to future contestants, but they will be forced to compete on lesser terms. Any prospect of fairness was erased at the stroke of a pen.
Many with swimming potential will simply walk away and consider another sport.
FINA has also snatched away " the pot of gold " that makes the years of grinding hard work and practice necessary to becoming a champion worthwhile.
With no hope of rising to the top the sponsorship rewards and public adoration are out of reach - and will remain in the hands of those who achieved them with now illegal help.
The glamour and allure of swimming just suffered a death blow !
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