FINA has approved the use of video technology to assess stroke infractions ©Getty Images

International Swimming Federation have approved a rule for underwater video judging equipment to be used at Tokyo 2020.

An updated set of FINA rules was published on the organisation’s website today, confirming the change.

Bylaw 9.2.2 now reads: “At Olympic Games and World Championships approved Automatic Officiating Equipment, including Underwater Video Judging Equipment shall be provided and used.”

“The approved Underwater Video Judging Equipment shall be used to initiate stroke infraction calls, confirm stroke infraction calls or assist the Referee to overturn calls made on the pool deck”.

The previous bylaw only outlined that automatic officiating equipment would be provided and used at Olympic Games and World Championships.

The video technology will not enable new decisions to be made against swimmers following races.

The technology will be used to confirm or overturn poolside decisions ©Getty Images
The technology will be used to confirm or overturn poolside decisions ©Getty Images

Technology will only be able to be used to review decisions already made by officials by the swimming pool.

The use of the technology will either overturn or confirm the existing decision.

Swimmers are obliged to follow stroke rules in events.

This includes a limit of a single butterfly kick in breaststroke, after the start and after each turn.

Swimmers are also permitted one or more leg kicks and one arm pull under the water in butterfly at the start and turns, which must bring them to the surface.

The technology is expected to be used at Tokyo 2020, following approval.