SUITS: Blueseventy is claiming US$10,000 a day in compensation from FINA, the international federation, for the loss of approval of its wetsuit-lookalike race suits. The New Zealand-based company, with a production unit in Germany, lodged its case in the Swiss Courts yesterday. The nero comp suit failed to make it on to the approved suits list because it "may cause significant air trapping". The company offered its customers compensation on some suits that may now not be used to race in. Such a scheme will  come at a high cost. The case hangs on whether FINA has acted unfairly and whether it can prove its case "scientifically". From January 1, 2010, suits based largely on non-textile, non-permeable fabrics are likely to be barred from race swimming. Blueseventy customers should note the following important clarification sent by blueseventy: "Buy back relates to suits purchased between 1st April 2009 and 1st November 2009. Customers can trade them in during January 2010 return for a 2010 approved race suit and will receive $200 towards a new suit. This only applies in the USA, arrangements for the rest of the world are being considered at the moment and will be announced in due course. Customers will receive a rebate towards a new version of the same suit with proof of purchase. Retailers have been contacted with details relating to the buy back scheme and management of old stock. Returned suits will be donated for training purposes."

USA: More than 20 US Olympic team members, including Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte and Katie Hoff will compete at the Santa Clara International Grand Prix on June 11-14 in California, alongside a strong Australia selection. The meet is the final stage of the USA Swimming Grand Prix Series and the last test for many before the much-awaited ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships, and Rome 2009 world-title trials next month. The Santa Clara meet will feature 30 Australians, including Olympic champions Stephanie Rice and Leisel Jones (the breaststroke ace who will not race at world championships this summer), as well as Brenton Rickard and Hayden Stoeckel. Olympic backstroke champion Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) will be there to challenge the woman who pipped her for gold in both Beijing medley finals. Rice has been training at altitude in Arizona for the past two weeks as part of a study by Swimming Australia and the Australian Sports Institute. Among other visitors testing themselves before Rome is Brent Hayden (CAN), world 100m free champion. You can watch events at USA Swimming's official news outlet swimnetwork.com.

Rome: Two more pools have been seized by police working on the order of the public prosecutor in the Italian capital, venue for the world championships in July in an investigation into whether urban planning rules were observed. The latest pools to be seized are the Flaminio Sporting Club and the Riserva Macchione. Meanwhile, the president of the organising committee of Roma 2009, Giovanni Giovanni Malagò, may resign today, according to Italian media reports. An "extraordinary assembly" meeting will be held at which Roberto Diacetti, Malago's right-hand man, may be asked to go. If that happens, Malago has indicated that he will follow.