The Olympics often serve as a stage for grand gestures and grand ambitions. But as we approach the Milano Cortino Winter Olympics on February 6th, officials from the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) have addressed claims that male athletes were attempting to gain a competitive edge by augmenting their penis sizes. This week, the organization addressed reports from the German newspaper Bild that ski jumpers had injected hyaluronic acid into their penises before being measured for their suits.
According to Bild, before each season, ski jumpers are measured using a 3D scanner, with the lowest point being in the genital area. These measurements are then used to design the suit for the season. While not explicitly banned in the sport, hyaluronic acid – a lubricating substance often used in skincare – can be injected to increase the penis’ circumference by one or two centimeters. The FIS explains that this can add a few millimeters of fabric to the suits, which in turn can increase a skier’s flight in the air and potentially help them in the competition.
“Every extra centimeter on a suit counts,” explained Sandro Pertile, FIS ski jumping men’s race director, as quoted by the BBC. “If your suit has a 5% bigger surface area, you fly further.”
However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is not familiar with the use of hyaluronic acid in the sport. During a press conference at the Olympics, WADA’s director general Olivier Niggli explained, “I am not aware of the details of ski jumping, and how that could improve performance.” He continued, “If anything was to come to the surface, we would look at it and see if it is doping-related. We don’t address other [non-doping] means of enhancing performance.”
But these allegations could be just that – unfounded rumors. FIS communications director Bruno Sassi told BBC Sport, “There has never been any indication, let alone evidence, that any competitor has ever made use of a hyaluronic acid injection to attempt to gain a competitive advantage.”
