WADA Could Probe Claims of Ski Jumpers Using Penis Injections to Gain Competitive Advantage

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) may launch an investigation if evidence confirms that male ski jumpers are using penis injections to gain a competitive edge.

The controversy emerged in January when German newspaper Bild reported that athletes were injecting their penises with hyaluronic acid before their suits were measured.

While not a banned substance, hyaluronic acid can increase penis circumference by one to two centimetres, a modification that could last up to 18 months.

According to the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), this enlargement would increase the surface area of a competitor's suit, potentially allowing them to fly further during a jump.

"Every extra centimetre on a suit counts," explained Sandro Pertile, FIS ski jumping men's race director, as quoted by BBC Sport. "If your suit has a 5% bigger surface area, you fly further."

During a press conference at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, WADA Director General Olivier Niggli addressed the claims.

"I am not aware of the details of ski jumping and how that could improve performance," he stated. "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."

WADA President Witold Banka of Poland added a touch of humour to the unusual topic. "Ski jumping is very popular in Poland, so I promise you I'm going to look at it," he joked.

FIS Communications Director Bruno Sassi told BBC Sport that the federation has seen no evidence to support the allegations.

"There has never been any indication, let alone proof, of this," he said. Sassi explained that athletes undergo biometric measurements, including crotch height, to ensure their suits comply with regulations. The suit's crotch height is permitted to be up to 3cm larger than the athlete's actual measurement.

This is not the first time suit manipulation has been a talking point in the sport. In August, Norwegian Olympic medallists Marius Lindvik and Johann Andre Forfang received three-month suspensions for suit tampering during the World Ski Championships in March.

Although the athletes were reportedly unaware of the modifications, FIS determined their team had "tried to cheat the system" by using reinforced thread in their jumpsuits.

Both Lindvik and Forfang are scheduled to compete at the Winter Olympics, with the men's ski jumping events set to begin on Monday.