Rome, July 26 (DPA) The newly-elected president of swimming's controlling body FINA has said that he believes that world records achieved with high-tech swimsuits should be kept.

Uruguayan Julio Maglione, who took over the FINA presidency from Mustapha Larfaoui, told the German Press Agency dpa that he is in favour of keeping the records, even if the swimsuits are no longer permitted from next year.

The FINA congress decided on Friday to ban the performance-enhancing high-tech bodysuits, which had resulted in a flood of world records.

'I believe the FINA decision next week will be to respect the records, which were achieved under certain conditions, which FINA condoned and which everybody accepted. The records will stand,' Maglione said, adding that it was his personal view.

He said that he welcomed the decision to ban the suits. 'The technology is important, but swimming is the body, training, hard work and the athlete. We are now beginning an era in which there will again be respect for the swimmer.'