Picture the scene in Britain this morning (and in Germany, the US, and elsewhere, probably) as swimmers and coaches turn up to training on the eve of world-championship trials. Guess what: all suits are allowed again. 

"Ridiculous, just plain stupid," says one senior coach. He hit upon two of the key aspects of the problem: 

1. "FINA is not there to bow to suit makers, it's there to govern the sport and set rules in the best interests of the swimmer."

Ah, say some daft folk, but the fast suit helps the swimmer and is available to all, so what's the problem. 

2. "We're all just wandering around this morning saying 'this is ridiculous, let's get back to 'normal suits' and the sooner the better. people are running around not knowing what the hell to do. Their lottery funding depends on results at the world championships. You have some who might not even make it to Rome because of a suit, and then those who do get there will have their whole funding based on a result that is dictated by a suit. As a nation we could take the moral high ground and say we're not wearing this nonsense but if we do that, well ... take the sprint finals, it could be that we get no-one through to a final. That means no funding."

No funding on the way to a home Olympic Games in 2012. The problems created by FINA's phased solution to the suits crisis in order to appease the suit makers are multi-tiered.

Below is a letter sent to SwimNews by a Britain team member who must stand up in Glasgow this week and fight for a place on the national team. On the basis of that result hangs a future. 

I run the letter in its entirety, respecting the swimmer's wish to remain anonymous, as requested in the letter. I thank the swimmer and say only: you have our my undying sympathy.

Hi,

I hope you don't mind me emailing my views on the recent decision on racing suits. I'm a British swimmer, and as you know we have our 2nd set of trials coming up in 3 days, and for those swimmers who are yet to qualify for the World Championships or World Student Games this is obviously a very important meet. And yet, in the wake of this decision, how can anyone feel like they possibly win? 

Swimming is no longer about the swimmer, but about the suit. Anyone who does a best time, or sets a British/European/Commonwealth/World record wearing one of these suits can't possibly expect to be allowed to revel in it as would otherwise be allowed - because any achievement is now overshadowed by what they're wearing. 

Whatever suit a swimmer chooses to wear in a race, we still work hard, day after day, for what we're trying to achieve, but these advances in technology no longer allow this to be appreciated.

This said, my main problems with the suit are actually entirely different. I find it hard to explain quite how MUCH I would like to be a part of the team going to Rome. Every swimmer has their own routine leading up to a major competition, and I would say that one of the key elements for race preparation is focus: being able to focus on the job that you as a swimmer need to do. And yet 3 days out of the competition, I find myself having to think not only about my preparation, and my race, but about my suit. 

I don't WANT to wear a Jaked, or a B70, because I'd feel like I'm cheating (even though these suits are now "legal"). (Incidentally, as a student and a non-funded swimmer, I also can't afford one!) But if everyone else is going to be wearing one, am I shooting myself in the foot if I don't? Don't get me wrong, I'm not by any means saying that if you wear these suits, you are cheating; it is just the way I'd feel if I was wearing one. 

I think the main reason I love swimming is the sense of achievement I get out of it when things are going well - I can't say if this is true for anyone else. I just feel if I was wearing a Jaked, which appears to enhance performance pretty significantly, I wouldn't have this sense - because it's not me achieving anymore. Is it?

... I am confused by the whole shambolic situation.

Thanks very much for your coverage of all this - I don't mind my views being used in any way but would prefer to stay anonymous.

Thanks a lot,

signed by the swimmer.

And behind the scenes there are charming people from the suit-making world this morning sending high-five text messages and e-mails (some of which I've seen) congratulating each other on FINA's weakness and their strength. No mention of the impact of their dark work on the swimmer above and the very many like that swimmer around the world who are devastated by the news today.

As the coach to Olympic medallists put it: "Who would have thought that it would come to this: the sport is being dictated by a couple of suit makers who just walked through the pool door five minutes ago, and the federation doesn't give a damn."