Rome - French swimmers Amaury Leveaux and Aurore Mongel on Saturday failed in their attempts to have a swimsuit ban overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The two swimmers lodged an urgent appeal against the ban issued by the sport's governing body FINA, which ruled that the bodysuit, made by the American company TYR, did not meet the FINA standards.

The two swimmers claimed that their swimsuit, which is made entirely of polyurethane, is very similar to one produced by the Italian company Jaked, which has not been banned.

CAS did not make a ruling on the eligibility of the swimsuit, but turned down the appeal on the basis that it was not urgent and could hear the matter at a later date.

The swimmers will thus not be allowed to compete in their swimsuits at the world championships, where the swimming competition starts on Sunday.

FINA ruled on Friday that all bodysuits will be banned from 2010. (dpa)