Booster legalization proposed

zeio said:

Ladies and gentlemen! That's it. The news is in. The proposal has been withdrawn.

German TTA complained. ESN complained. Several manufacturers complained. Pundits complained.

It's decided a working group will be formed to look for a simple way to inspect rackets. Take it to mean boosting will be condoned.

Here I await the formal apologies from those who doubted me.

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igorponger said:

HAPPY CROOKS.

It is a common knowledge that China players all are using illegal rubbers as supplied by DHS manufacturer directly to the National training center. And those ''special version'' rubbers (wrapped in white coversheets) have never been approved by ITTF and not being supplied for retail.

https://tennis-tavolo.com/threads/01-07-2009-e-legalizzato-il-booster.16696/page-7#post-558996

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5.2 MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS

5.2.1 The ITTF will be very strict with Manufacturers, Suppliers and
Distributors that are on the ITTF’s list of Authorized Racket
Coverings that still produce illegal materials such a VOC-glues,
or any type of additive such as Boosters, Tuners, oils, etc.

5.2.2 The ITTF is extremely disappointed with those manufacturers
who are secretly providing illegal substances for their sponsored
players to use. This is totally UNACCEPTABLE and is
considered an illegal act and cheating.

5.2.3 Any manufacturer or distributor found producing, selling, or
providing any illegal substance to players or coaches will be
considered in violation of ITTF rules and will be suspended
indefinitely from any ITTF activity, and the authorization to use
the ITTF logo will be immediately withdrawn. This measure is
according to our discussions with FIT, the Federation of
International Table tennis Manufacturers.

5.2.4 The ITTF Executive Committee will also set hefty fees for the reintroduction
of any suspended manufacturer or distributor after
the suspension period is completed or lifted.

5.2.5 The ITTF will make no exception in this matter and
sponsorships, advertising agreements, etc., will all be cancelled
immediately and the already paid sums forfeited.

5.2.6 It is a serious offence to sell, procure, be involved in the
procurement, give for free or make available any additive to
players and coaches.

5.2.7 With this message the ITTF issues a stern warning to ALL
manufacturers and distributors to observe and respect the ITTF rules
as they are now set.

5.2.8 The ITTF will be very strict with regard to the thickness of the
racket coverings. The ITTF Equipment Committee has already
alerted several manufacturers from producing maximum
thickness racket coverings of 4mm. With the addition of a layer
of glue, the racket covering may exceed the allowable thickness.
It is therefore recommended that the manufacturers allow for
this fact and produce racket coverings below the allowed
maximum.

5.2.9 ADVICE TO MANUFACTURERS:

5.2.9.1 Do not produce any substances that are used as
additives by the players after the equipment has been
approved by the ITTF.

5.2.9.2 Do not produce a maximum thickness of 4mm racket
covering, please follow the advice of the ITTF’s
Equipment Committee to allow for the thickness of the
glue layers.

5.2.9.3 Please print the maximum racket covering thickness
on the packaging wherever possible.

5.2.9.4 Do not provide to players and coaches any postfactory
additives of any kind.

5.2.9.5 You can put the rubber under tension at the factory as
long as it meets the ITTF specifications and passes
the ITTF tests.

5.2.9.6 Do not stretch or put the rubber in tension AFTER it
has been approved.

5.2.9.7 You can use VOC-containing elements, within the
limits allowable in your country, in the production
phase of the racket covering as long as you get rid of
5
all the VOCs before packaging through proper and
sufficient airing of the racket covering before
packaging and as long as this is done at the factory
level and does not violate ITTF rules. This would be
considered a production phase.

5.2.9.8 The final product cannot be different than the product
approved by the ITTF.

5.2.9.9 The ITTF authorisation applies to a racket covering as
originally submitted and tested; its subsequent alteration, by a supplier,
a player or anyone else, is not permitted.

5.2.9.10 Changes from the original design will normally not be
permitted. However, changes to the text area only may be allowed,
and must be confirmed.

5.2.9.11 When in doubt, please consult the ITTF Equipmen Committee.

THE END OF DOCUMENT.

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zeio said:

The ITTF has started approving topsheet and sponge as a pair, ever since 2010, IIRC, after booster became prominent.

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mart1nandersson said:

So how come that there're 5-10 different versions of H3 with the same certification number?

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3. Regulations for International Competitions.

3.2.1.3 Any ordinary pimpled rubber or sandwich rubber covering the racket
shall be currently authorised by the ITTF and shall be attached to the blade so that the
ITTF logo, the ITTF number (when present), the supplier and brand names are clearly
visible nearest the handle.
Lists of all approved and authorised equipment and materials are maintained
by the ITTF Office and details are available on the ITTF website

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mart1nandersson said:

So how come that there're 5-10 different versions of H3 with the same certification number?

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B. Quantitative Criteria
1. The racket covering
It should be noted in particular that:
Authorisation is given to the top sheet plus the top sheet / sponge combination. Red and black top sheets with the same ITTF number or supplier and brand name must have the same geometry, properties, and branding area (wording and numbering). The surface colours must be uniform. Red and black top sheets of the same brand do not require separate authorisation fees.

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zeio said:

The specific lines go like this.

https://d3mjm6zw6cr45s.cloudfront.net/2017/10/T4_Racket_Coverings_BOD2017.pdf_0.pdf

They added the phrase "top sheet / sponge combination" because folks argued the ITTF didn't authorize the sponge and hence booster should be allowed. OTOH, ITTF, or specifically Sharara, argued that expanding the sponge would expand the topsheet as well and that would be a violation to the authorization.

From what I understand, the phrase is added there merely to patch the loophole and weed out boosting. They couldn't care less about all the combinations of the same topsheet with different sponge.

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