Doping chiefs vow to look into Olympic ski jumping ‘penis injection’ claims
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A female ski jumper competing at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games on Feb 5.
PHOTO: AFP
- Anti-doping officials are investigating claims ski jumpers inject hyaluronic acid into their penises for aerodynamic advantages.
- The theory suggests suit adjustments around the groin, creating a "sail" effect, improve jump distance, leading to suspensions.
- WADA will investigate if the practice enhances performance and constitutes doping, despite medical risks and lack of lengthening.
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MILAN - Anti-doping chiefs at the Winter Olympics
The claims, first reported in the German media, are based on the theory that adjustments to ski jumpers’ body suits, especially around the groin, can create the effect of a sail that can add metres to a jump.
Two Norwegians were given three-month suspensions in 2025 after the team was found to have adjusted the seams of their suits around the crotch area at the 2025 World Ski Championships.
Marius Lindvik, who will seek to retain his Large Hill Olympic title at the Milan-Cortina Games, and another Olympic medallist, Johann Andre Forfang, were suspended even though both argued that the suits had been altered without their knowledge.
When Witold Banka, the Polish president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), was asked about the penis injection claims in a news conference in Milan, he answered with a smile: “Ski jumping is very popular in Poland, so I promise you I’m going to look at it.”
Olivier Niggli, WADA’s director-general, said: “I’m not aware of the details of ski jumping – and how this can improve (performance) – but if anything was to come to the surface we would look at anything if it is actually doping-related.
“We don’t do other means of enhancing performance but our list committee would certainly look into whether this would fall into this category.”
German newspaper Bild in January quoted Kamran Karim, a senior physician at Maria-Hilf Hospital in Krefeld who said it was possible to create a “temporary, visual thickening of the penis through injections of paraffin or hyaluronic acid”.
He added: “However, lengthening is not possible in this way. Such injections are not medically indicated and are associated with risks.” AFP
