Alain Bernard's world 100m freestyle record set in April will not be approved, swimming's world governing body FINA said yesterday.

Bernard became the first man to break the 47 seconds barrier with 46.94 at the French championships but the Olympic champion was wearing an Arena-made swimsuit which had not been approved by FINA.

The world record is still held by Australian Eamon Sullivan in 47.05.

"This decision will have serious consequences for swimming and us swimmers," Bernard said.

"FINA's positions are contradictory and impossible to understand."

The French Federation said it would appeal the decision.

"This is pitiful. This is not the end of the story. We must now defend our athletes' best interests," French Federation technical director Christian Donze told Reuters.

"These are inconsistent decisions once again," Bernard's coach Denis Auguin said.

"Some times set with some swimsuits are approved while others set with equivalent suits are not."

Frederick Bousquet's world 50m freestyle record is still pending FINA approval but the governing body approved his controversial Jaked 01 suit yesterday.

FINA said they were now just waiting the results of Bousquet's anti-doping tests before approving his 20.94 time as a world record.

Alarmed by more than 100 world records in the past 18 months, most from swimmers wearing the new-technology suits, FINA decided to reassess the standards before next month's world championships in Rome.