Over at The Machinist, Salon tech writer Farhad Manjoo questions whether Speedo’s new LZR swimsuit constitutes tech doping. According to Speedo, the suit helps to streamline the swimmer’s body and reduce drag on the body. The LZR was introduced in February this year and has been worn for 21 of the 22 world records set since then. The suit costs $500 and for professional swimmers, must be replaced every tenth swim, so needless to say, wealthier swim teams have an advantage. While some swimmers and coaches have embraced the suit others are calling foul and claim that wearing it constitutes technological doping.
In athletics, the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) last year banned South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius from competition due to the advantage given to him by his artificial limbs. Their ruling prohibited the use of “any technical device that incorporates springs, wheels or any other element that provides a user with an advantage over another athlete not using such a device“.
Now, obviously the two sports are not ruled by the same governing body but surely doping – whether chemical or technical – should be governed by similar rules across the different types of sports. And by this reasoning, the LZR suit should be banned.
Of course, that begs the question, how do you decide what criteria to use when judging whether a piece of technology – be it artificial limbs or swimwear – provides an athlete with an advantage over others?
Personally, I say they should all swim nekkid. It’s common knowledge that professional swimmers have the buffest bods. 
I agree, esp Ryk! hmmm. yummy!
Anyway – I think that it’s only the beginning of something huge in the sporting world. I’m sure that over the next couple of years, more and more “tech doping” issues will arise (it’s inevitable – we are progressive animals, and it’s fantastic what technology can do for you).
I think that the various sporting bodies will be caught slightly unawares, similar to the music industry and napster, and then they will find themselves backpeddling and getting nowhere with their rules. I think many athletes are already tech doping to some extent – for example wearing nike airs, or somesuch. So, it’s going to get to a stage where it’s acceptable to do so, in small increments (maybe that was the issue with with Oscar’s legs: it was too much too soon and the people couldn’t handle it.). And once it’s acceptable – again, similar to downloading music – the industry itself will have a huge battle on their hands to stop it.
I suspect it’s more a case of using artificiality to de-level the playing field. You have an unnatural advantage over the other competitors: you’re no longer playing the same game because you’re not following the same rules. If one person has a technological advantage, then they must all be given the same advantage to re-level the playing field.