"FINA is committed to ensuring that all aquatics athletes have access to appropriate swimwear for competition where this swimwear does not confer a competitive advantage," the statement said. "FINA is currently reviewing the situation with regards to 'Soul Cap' and similar products, understanding the importance of inclusivity and representation."
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According to FINA's statement, Soul Caps are allowed to be worn by professional athletes for "recreational and teaching purposes." The federation added that it "appreciates the efforts" of the brand and others like it to "ensure everyone has the chance to enjoy the water."
"FINA will also speak with the manufacturer of the 'Soul Cap' about utilizing their products through the FINA Development Centres," the statement said.
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"FINA expects to make its consideration of 'Soul Cap' and similar products part of wider initiatives aimed at ensuring there are no barriers to participation in swimming, which is both a sport and a vital life skill," the statement concluded.
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According to the 2020 FINA Olympic rule book, it's "permissible to wear two swim caps" during competitions. The rules also say that manufacturers of new swimwear and caps that include "a new design, construction, or material" must "submit the swimwear to FINA to obtain its approval" before being worn.
As previously reported by Metro, however, the FINA committee originally said it rejected the brand's application because given the group's "best knowledge," competing athletes "never used, neither require to use, caps of such size and configuration."
It also said the caps would not be permitted because they didn't fit "the natural form of the head."
However, many swimming fans felt that FINA's reasoning didn't make sense. Torrence Thomas, a cofounder of the swimming nonprofit Tankproof, said in an interview with Vogue that inclusive caps don't give swimmers "an unfair advantage."
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"It doesn't make you faster, it doesn't make you more streamlined," he told the publication. "So the reasons they presented for making the decision don't make any sense. It's just not logical."
In a statement previously sent to Insider, Soul Cap founders Toks Ahmed and Michael Chapman said they didn't see the decision "as a setback," but instead a "chance to open up an important dialogue and make a bigger difference."
Still, Ahmed and Chapman noted it was disappointing to know that younger swimmers might be discouraged from pursuing the sport after learning of the decision.
Representatives for FINA and Soul Cap did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider.
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