United States Pan Ams Relay DQ’ed Due to Taped Fingers

Update: the disqualification was overturned on appeal.

The United States’ men’s 800 free relay was disqualified on the second day of the 2015 Pan American Games after touching second, marking just the second time in the 64-year history of the event that the United States didn’t win gold (and the only time they failed to medal at all).

The cause, however, wasn’t the typical violation of a premature relay exchange, rather it was officially a violation of suit rules because one of the United States’ swimmers, Michael Weiss, had tape around his left middle and ring fingers, leading to the disqualification.

Tape is specifically outlawed under FINA rules, in section SW 10.8 of the swimming rules & regulations.

SW 10.8 No swimmer shall be permitted to use or wear any device or swimsuit that may aid his/her speed, buoyancy or endurance during a competition (such as webbed gloves, flippers, fins, etc.). Goggles may be worn. Any kind of tape on the body is not permitted unless approved by FINA Sport Medicine Committee.

The disqualification implies that the taped fingers were not approved by the FINA Sports Medicine Committee. The purpose of the rule would be to prevent swimmers from using tape around their fingers to create a webbed glove-like effect between their fingers.

USA Swimming personnel told Swimswam, “U.S. swimmer Michael Weiss injured his middle finger of his left hand on the finish of the 200-meter freestyle tonight and had his fingers taped for treatment prior to the 800m free relay. The relay was disqualified in violation of FINA rule 10.8, which states that no tape may be placed on the body.

 “The U.S. protested the disqualification, and the decision is in the hands of the referee.”

Now, the United States will have to win the 400 medley relay on Saturday to avoid another first. The American men have never struck out on relays at the Pan American Games.

 

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Ewan
9 years ago

In the trials this morning he had his fingers taped again- there needs to be consistency in this ruling. Can he have them taped, or not?

Rafael
Reply to  Ewan
9 years ago

You can have your fingers tapped, but there is a procedure to validate the situation, there is a high possibility that US did not followed the procedures last night…

Ave
9 years ago

How did they win appeal? I mean rules are rules…

bobo gigi
9 years ago

US appeal accepted.
US relay wins silver.

Reply to  bobo gigi
9 years ago

Ridiculous. Can’t wait for the story on that.

completelyconquered
Reply to  Hulk Swim
9 years ago

The salt is real.

Dee
9 years ago

Why protest the Disqualification? Rules are rules, a member of USA Swimming on deck should have been aware of this rule, it’s not like it’s hard to find. It’s even more ridiculous that the protest has been accepted, why have rules if they aren’t enforced? There must have been prior clearance? If not, poor showing all-round.

Queeny
9 years ago

I wonder when they will DQ some of the women swimmers who are wearing fake finger nails. Fake nails make the amount of water pulled more and give an advantage….unfair I believe.

Zanna
Reply to  Queeny
9 years ago

What kind of elite swimmer would wear fake nails to any swim meet? This is not 10th grade.

Reply to  Zanna
9 years ago

Inge de Bruijn.

Ave
Reply to  Queeny
9 years ago

Most don’t wear fake ones but rather just paint their own in fancy ways, I believe?

TheTroubleWithX
9 years ago

Maybe I’m just naive, but given how obvious the rule is, and the apparent violation was, you have to assume that either:
a) the USA team had been given assurances by some official that Weiss was cleared to wear the tape, or
b) they was some irregularity about how the disqualification process.

completelyconquered
Reply to  TheTroubleWithX
9 years ago

A = Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner.

Andrew Solomon
9 years ago
Texasboy
9 years ago

Clay, don’t make this mistake at worlds.

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Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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