FINA calls off Sumidero Canyon Grand Prix due to safety reasons
The international sports governing body, Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA) has called off its decision of conducting Open Water Swimming at Sumidero Canyon, Mexico on May 7, 2011.
The decision is said to be backed by FINA’s safety and security issues that are mandatory for conducting Open Water Swimming.
The decision is a result of FINA’s sports medicine committee, who has declared the quality of water as unsafe and warned FINA for conducting the event on specified date. They stressed that, "that FINA should not expose its swimmers to these unsafe water
conditions."
The Canyon Grand Prix is the fifth spot of 2011 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix. The event was going to conduct 15km races for Men and Women, offering a cash prize of USD 15,000 but now the race is postponed for an unspecified time.
FINA has been more vigilant of its athletes’ security after the death of US National Champion, Fran Crippen, in a FINA organised event. Crippen died at the FINA Open Water 10km World Cup in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates during October 2010. Crippen’s death
was initially explained as a result of heat-stroke during the swim in hot water conditions of the UAE. Nevertheless, results of independent inquires being conducted by FINA and USA Swimming, held the UAE organising committee liable for the death of the champion
swimmer.
FINA’s inquiry of Crippen’s death held UAE management liable for not abiding over a dozen rules and regulations. After this huge loss, FINA has adherence to strict policies of conducting an open water event and has been more cautious of governing its mandatory
rules. Now, FINA has been re-assessing its safety precautions for the open water championships
The decision about the Mexico event was taken by the President of FINA after the suggestion from President of Federacion Mexicana de Natacion, Kirill Minchev Todorov. The event precedes six more open water races of the Grand Prix Series, with its last stop
at Jableh, Syria on September 17, 2011. Furthermore, the cancellation of the Mexican event might put a halt on the other FINA organised events.
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