Swimming's governing body wants to give Michael Phelps a special invitation to race at the world championships.
FINA executive director Cornel Marculescu told the Associated Press on Thursday it would be "no problem for us" to offer Phelps an extra place.
The 18-time Olympic champion was suspended by USA Swimming from the August 2-9 meet in Kazan, Russia, after a second drunken driving arrest last year.
Though the US team has considered reinstating him, Phelps said he did not want to displace a swimmer who earned selection in his absence.
However, the world body could yet find space for him at the biggest event ahead of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
"We may give him another status because he's the greatest athlete (in) history," Marculescu said. "We can do whatever. He is the No.1. He doesn't need the accreditations."
The FINA official said he has not discussed Phelps's status with the US team.
"We don't discuss with USA Swimming yet because they passed so many waves in the case of Phelps," Marculescu said.
Phelps said on Wednesday it was "painful" to miss the worlds.
"By no means do I want this to be a distraction from the team," Phelps said in Mesa, Arizona, ahead of his comeback races. "No way would I ever want to displace a member of that team."
Phelps qualified for the worlds in the 100m butterfly, 100 free and 200 individual medley before being suspended.
He plans to compete in stead at American nationals from August 4-8 in San Antonio, Texas.
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