American swimmer Ryan Lochte will no longer be able to carry out his new underwater turns in the individual medley event after they were banned by governing body FINA.

During last month's World Championships in Kazan, the five-time Olympic gold medallist opted against rotating onto his stomach, and instead stayed on his back for 10 metres after pushing off the wall.

Now, FINA has announced a new rule, which states: "Being on the back when leaving the wall for the freestyle portion of the individual medley is covering more than one quarter of the distance in the style of backstroke and is, therefore, a disqualification."

Lochte, who won three gold medals in Russia last month, tweeted "too funny" when rumours were circling that his technique would be banned.