With the Winter Olympics in Milan here, officials from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found themselves fielding questions far removed from typical discussions about banned substances and testing procedures.
A report published last month by German tabloid Bild claimed that male ski jumpers might be injecting hyaluronic acid into their penises to alter body measurements taken during pre-season suit fittings. According to the report, the alleged goal was to appear slightly larger during 3D body scans, allowing for looser suits that could provide an aerodynamic advantage.
The claim gained traction quickly, landing on WADA’s doorstep just one day before the Opening Ceremony and prompting questions about whether cosmetic fillers could fall under the agency’s purview.
WADA distances itself from the claim
WADA Director General Olivier Niggli addressed the report while speaking to journalists in Milan, emphasizing that the agency had no evidence suggesting the practice existed, or that it would even qualify as doping.
“I am not aware of the details of ski jumping, and how that could improve performance,” Niggli said, according to BBC Sport. He added that WADA’s mandate is limited to substances and methods that violate anti-doping rules.
“If anything was to come to the surface, we would look at it and see if it is doping-related,” he said. “We don’t address other means of enhancing performance.”
WADA President Witold Bańka took a lighter tone when asked about the rumor, joking that Poland’s long-standing enthusiasm for ski jumping meant he would personally look into the matter.
Why suit measurements are closely regulated
While the injection claim raised skepticism, the role of suit sizing in ski jumping is well established. Even minor variations can affect lift and distance during a jump.
Sandro Pertile, men’s race director for the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), previously explained how narrow the margins are. “Every extra centimeter on a suit counts,” he said in 2024, noting that a small increase in surface area can translate into longer flight.
Before each season, athletes undergo body scans to determine allowable suit dimensions. Regulations require suits to conform closely to those measurements, typically within a range of two to four centimeters.
No evidence, according to FIS
Despite the attention generated by the report, FIS officials dismissed the claim outright.
“There has never been any indication, let alone evidence, that any competitor has used hyaluronic acid injections to gain a competitive advantage,” FIS communications director Bruno Sassi told BBC Sport.
The rumor also arrives amid a broader cultural moment where cosmetic enhancement, including penis filler procedures offered by clinics like Lushful Aesthetics, has become more openly discussed outside traditional medical spaces, even as claims about performance benefits remain unsubstantiated.
Past controversies keep scrutiny high
Ski jumping has faced equipment-related scandals before, though none involving cosmetic procedures.
In August of last year, Norwegian Olympic medalists Johann Andre Forfang and Marius Lindvik accepted three-month suspensions after officials determined their suits had been altered using reinforced thread during the 2025 World Ski Championships. The incident reinforced how closely suit compliance is monitored at the elite level.
For now, WADA appears content to leave the latest claim grounded unless credible evidence suggests otherwise.
