High-tech swimsuits banned in high school swimming

In May SportsLetter reported on the growing controversy surrounding the use of high-tech swimwear in international swimming.  SportsLetter also described the pressure felt by high school swim coaches to provide their swimmers with the expensive performance-enhancing suits.  Yesterday, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) announced that it was banning the suits from high school swimming. 

Below is an excerpt from the press release on the NFHS website:

"The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Swimming and Diving Rules Committee approved changes to Rule 3-2-2 that will make the high-tech swimsuit no longer a legal suit for swimmers at the high school level. The committee's recommendations were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Effective immediately, swimmers shall be limited to one swimsuit, which shall be constructed of a woven/knit textile material, permeable to water and air, constructed so as not to aid in buoyancy, and shall not contain zippers or other fastening systems. In addition, the suit shall be constructed so that the style/shape for males shall not extend above the waist or below the top of the kneecap and for females shall not extend beyond the shoulders or below the top of the kneecap, and it shall not cover the neck."