Escalating dispute between with swimmers, FINA

GENEVA — Four-time Olympic medalist Chad le Clos threw his support Monday behind a planned new competition that is leading top swimmers to rebel against their governing body.

The International Swimming League, which aims to launch next year, “will benefit swimming with a new dynamic approach,” Le Clos said.

The ISL is privately owned and outside the control of Switzerland-based governing body FINA. It also aims to pay higher prize money and involve athletes more in making decisions.

“Why should athletes not shape their own series like so many other Olympic sports?” the 2012 Olympic champion in 200-meter butterfly wrote on Twitter.