MARK Foster has compared the use of performance-enhancing bodysuits to steroids and claims they are making a "mockery" of swimming.
More than 100 world records have tumbled during the past year and a half, most of them falling to competitors using the new fully-covered suits.
FINA, swimming's governing body, courted controversy last week when it approved the use of the modified technology at this World Championships in Rome.
The decision has left swimmers scrambling to decide what brand or model they should select knowing that the wrong decision, or a lack of access to their desired suit, could cost them a medal. St Neots swimmer Foster, a five-time British Olympian and eight-time world record holder, believes recent developments have damaged the sport and robbed it of a level playing field.
"The world championships are now going to be the suit wars and it's taken the shine off swimming," Foster said. "I want to see the sport go back to a pair of swimming trunks but that will never happen because this has gone too far now. There's also too much money involved in the swimsuit manufacturers.
"To me these suits are the equivalent of steroids.
"Michael Phelps is the best swimmer in the world but someone who is wearing a Jaked suit will beat him if he's using a Speedo suit, no shadow of a doubt. They are that effective.
"The men's 50m freestyle has improved by half a second. I tried for so many years to improve by 0.1 of a second. Put a new suit on and you can shave half a second off."
Foster continued: "It's not about the swimmers, it's about the suits.
"The suits are making the difference and anyone who tells you otherwise is lying.
"Some people say they're good for swimming because it means world records are being broken all of the time, but I think they make a mockery of the sport."
* Mark Foster was speaking at the launch of Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week 2009 - an initiative that is using the power of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to inspire more young people across Britain into sport. www.schoolsportweek.org
