The World Anti Doping Agency has said it will review claims that male ski jumpers may be injecting their penises to gain a competitive edge, if solid proof comes forward.
The unusual allegation first appeared in January in the German newspaper Bild. The report claimed that some ski jumpers injected hyaluronic acid into their penises before official body measurements took place.
Hyaluronic acid is legal in sport and is commonly used in cosmetic procedures. According to the report, the substance can increase penis circumference by one to two centimetres.
Why Suit Size Matters in Ski Jumping
In ski jumping, suit size plays a major role in performance. A larger surface area can help athletes stay airborne for longer.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation measures athletes before each season using 3D body scanners. During these scans, athletes wear tight, elastic underwear only.
Officials then set strict limits on suit size. Rules allow a tolerance of just two to four centimetres. Officials also measure crotch height. For men, the suit may exceed their actual crotch height by only three centimetres.
FIS men’s race director Sandro Pertile explained the impact clearly. He said every extra centimetre matters because a suit with five percent more surface area can increase flight distance.
WADA Responds to the Allegations
When asked about the claims during a press conference at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, WADA director general Olivier Niggli said he was unfamiliar with how such actions could improve performance.
However, he added that WADA would review the issue if evidence appeared. He also clarified that the agency only handles doping related matters, not equipment manipulation.
WADA president Witold Banka responded with humour. He joked that ski jumping is very popular in Poland and promised to look into the matter himself.
FIS Denies Any Evidence of Injections
FIS strongly rejected the claims. Communications director Bruno Sassi said the federation has never seen any sign that athletes used hyaluronic acid injections to gain an advantage.
He stressed that no evidence exists to support the story.
Medical experts note that hyaluronic acid injections can last up to 18 months, which has raised questions about whether such changes could affect long term measurements.
Past Suit Manipulation Scandals
Although the injection claim remains unproven, ski jumping has faced past controversies linked to suit manipulation.
In August, Norwegian Olympic medallists Marius Lindvik and Johann Andre Forfang accepted three month suspensions. Officials punished them after discovering suit tampering at the World Ski Championships in Trondheim.
Investigators later confirmed that the athletes did not know about the changes. However, FIS ruled that their team attempted to cheat by inserting reinforced thread into the suits.
Both athletes will compete at the Winter Olympics, which officially begin on Friday. The men’s ski jumping events start on Monday.
