Is Wearing the Speedo LZR Racer Suit like taking Performance Enhancing Drugs?

All eyes this summer will be on the Olympics this August in Beijing, China.  My daughter, who just got back from spending a semester of study in Beijing, wonders if the city will really be prepared for all the people who will be coming....actually she doesn't just wonder, she doesn't think they will be.

But, that doesn't mean the athletes won't be, especially the swimmers who reportedly have been given the razors edge with the Speedo LZR Racer full body swimsuit designed by infamous Comme desGarcon designer Rei Kawakubo in conjunction with NASA.  The material developed by NASA apparently "reduces skin vibration and muscle oscillation," in short, produces less drag.  Designer Kawakubo made sure it looked good by incorporating a Japanese character ‘kokoro' - meaning heart, mind and spirit - by the calligrapher Inoue Yu-ichi to a side panel. 

Kawakubo states, "when we come to combine the development of the highest technology that is the realm of Speedo, with the force and spirit of the art of Yu-ichi, records will surely be broken."  from Wallpaper February 13, 2008.  And indeed it has: since it's unveiling, more than 3 dozen records have been set by the LZR wearing swimmers.

It's created such controversy that at least one lawsuit has been filed against Speedo for antitrust and other individuals for violating contracts.  Other rivals, such as Nike, is allowing its swimmers under contracts for endorsement to wear any suit they feel would give them the advantage.

FINA, the international governing body for the sport, has studied the suit to ensure it meets its guidelines and it has....their only concern is that everyone competing have access to the suit.  And by the Olympic meets that is something other teams plan to allow to happen regardless of their contractual agreements with rivals, such as the Japanese swim team.  As it is, the US swim team will have customized suits created by Kawakubo bearing the stars and stripes (its unveiling is tomorrow).  She offered to do the same for other teams but the U.S. was the only team who accepted.

(above image from NYT: Alain Bernard of France set a new world record in the 50-meter freestyle wearing a Speedo LZR Racer at the European Swimming Championships in March. Associated Press)