The 26-year-old, who was a contender to win gold at the London 2012 Olympics, died during a 10 kilometres open water race in the United Arab Emirates after losing consciousness.

It was the first death in FINA's 102-year history and a Task Force was set up by the world governing body to investigate the tragic incident.

The report states: "It is the opinion of the Task Force that there is an urgent need for an organisational commitment to athlete safety as a top priority, and to update and amend the Rules and Regulations of Open Water Swimming to keep up with the sport as it moves forward as an Olympic Sport.

"Commitment to the priority of athlete safety needs to start with the leadership of FINA as it considers and responds to the numerous safety recommendations contained within this report as well as the recommendations put forth from the federations and athletes.

"The commitment to athlete safety as a priority also extends to the responsibility of the Federations, and needs to be embraced at the level of coaches and athletes themselves to receive proper training and education to both demand appropriate race safety measures as well as recognise risk warning signs."

At the race in the United Arab Emirates, the Task Force revealed that safety measures were not addressed or properly implemented "leaving room for interpretation" but added that death of Crippen was down to a "multitude of factors".

"The medical cause of death derived from the autopsy report is that a patent cardiac disease was not found," the report states.

"The Task Force however, is of the opinion that cardiac abnormality cannot be excluded with all certainty as well as the possible occurrence of uncontrolled exercise-induced asthma in unfavourable race environment conditions.

"The Task Force acknowledges that factors such as a combination of high physical exertion and fatigue in conjunction with high air and water temperatures and potential dehydration, consistent with heat exhaustion, were all possible contribution causes which led to Francis Crippen's progressive incapacitation.

"This led to a loss of consciousness in the water which ultimately resulted in drowning.

"Because the rules require completion of the last race of the series, consideration should be given to the possibility of the athlete continuing to race despite feeling distressed or fatigued."

The Task Force makes a number of recommendations to FINA in the report.

These include the updating of FINA rules and guidelines regarding event safety, suggestions regarding race equipment and an update of the environmental and condition rules which includes setting maximum and minimum humidity norms.

The recommendations also include changes to the allocation of events to host federations with closer FINA inspections of venues before competition and medical recommendations for athletes which include medical clearance for athletes before races in keeping with the Consensus Statement of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Other recommendations suggest more technical meetings, more training opportunities in swimming pools and in open water and serious investigation into the rule that says that the final race must be completed.

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