The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina have sparked an unusual debate after reports suggested male ski jumpers might be injecting their penises with hyaluronic acid to improve performance.
According to a German newspaper, Bild, athletes were allegedly using the injections before being measured for their competition suits. Hyaluronic acid, which is not banned in sport, can temporarily increase penis circumference by one to two centimeters, potentially enlarging the surface area of a ski jumping suit.
“Every extra centimeter on a suit counts. If your suit has a 5% bigger surface area, you fly further,” said FIS ski jumping men’s race director Sandro Pertile.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said it would investigate if any evidence emerges suggesting such practices affect performance. Director-General Olivier Niggli commented: “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’s Polish president Witold Banka added with humor: “Ski jumping is very popular in Poland so I promise you I’m going to look at it.”
FIS communications director Bruno Sassi emphasized to BBC that there is no verified evidence of athletes using hyaluronic acid to gain an advantage.
The controversy comes against the backdrop of strict suit regulations. Ski jumpers are measured using 3D body scanners, wearing only body-tight underwear, and their suits must conform to precise dimensions with limited tolerances. Previous attempts to manipulate suit performance have resulted in sanctions, such as the three-month suspensions of Norwegian medalists Marius Lindvik and Johann Andre Forfang in 2025, although the athletes themselves were reportedly unaware of the tampering.
