Italy, world champs 2009 host, is in turmoil. The day after we heard of an official defiance of FINA suit rules, the Italian press is awash with tales of the war that has broken out in the ranks of Roma 2009, with the head of the Italian federation and aspiring FINA Bureau member Paolo Barelli calling for the heads of the president and the director general of the organising committee for the 13th FINA World Championships in July.

On Tuesday, the Italian national team fast suit, the Jaked01, was rejected for use in the race pool by independent suit tests that proved that the suit served as an aid to speed, buoyancy and endurance. But far from sending the suit back to the cutting room, its makers want to challenge FINA and the Italian federation has approved anarchy in the host nation of the FINA world championships by telling its swimmers: yes, you can wear illegal suits.

On the political side of things, a letter to the Rome authorities has Barelli demanding the firing of the president of Roma 2009 Giovanni Malagò and director Roberto Diacetti on the grounds of "abuse of power". The problem has its roots in politics and differences of opinion on how and where to organise the big event, which at one stage was to have been hosted in a new sports complex on the outskirts of Rome.

Signor Barelli has his own critics, some of whom ask today: why has his federation granted permission to Italian swimmers to the use illegal suits at the Italian trials for Rome 2009 this coming week. "That represents an official nod in support of anarchy," said a senior source within FINA. Should swims in a suit that has now been deemed illegal by FINA count? "No," came the reply. "And Italy risks being suspended for actively breaking the rules of FINA," said the source. "If those who wish to stand for the highest office of FINA cannot find it within themselves to honour the FINA rule book, then they have no place in FINA."

There is precedent and provision in the rule book for suspending whole nations. FINA would be loathe to suspend Italy as host nation of Roma 2009.  However, the Italian federation's position on the Jaked01 is untenable. If a single European or world record is established in the suit, "it could not and would not be ratified," said a FINA source.