The muscle-compressing, buoyancy-enhancing suits have caused controversy and are likely to presage a host of new records at the upcoming World Championships, which open in Rome next week.

But Adlington, the 400 and 800 metres freestyle Olympic champion, said she would not "compromise" her beliefs by competing in one.

She said: "I would never in a million years take a drug to help me, so why would I wear a suit just to improve my performance?

"It's just not who I am."

Adlington, 20, is due to compete in the 400m, 800m and the 4x200m relay in the Italian capital.

But she insists she wants to win solely through her natural ability rather than resort to technological aids.

The Mansfield swimmer said: "I got into swimming for the love of swimming and I work as hard as I do because I feel I can achieve things, but I don't want to stand up there on a box and improve just from wearing a suit - I want to improve because of my ability as a swimmer.

"I've chosen not to wear it and that is just down to my own morals ... at the end of the day I've not compromised my beliefs in any way and that makes me feel better as a person."

Swimwear technology has been increasing apace in recent months and Adlington herself was one of a number of top stars who used Speedo's friction-reducing LZR Racer suit at last summer's Beijing Games during which 25 new world marks were set, including one by her when she broke Janet Evans' 19-year-old mark in the 800m.

Swimming's world governing body Fina last month dropped its ban on the lastest new designs amid threats of legal action.

Fina became further embroiled in the suits issue on Friday when US swimwear maker TYR failed in its legal bid over the body's list of competition swimsuits approved last month.

Fina published a list of approved suits last month that included the all-polyurethane Jaked01 and a modified version of the part-polyurethane Arena X-Glide.

TYR complained four designs it submitted to Fina have not been approved.

A French court dismissed TYR's action because the matter was outside French jurisdiction with Fina based in Lausanne.