Photo Credit: Getty Images
The Olympics is frequently a time to go big or go home.
However, ahead of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on February 6, officials from the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) responded to allegations that male athletes were attempting to gain a competitive advantage by increasing their penis sizes. This week, the organization responded to January reports in the German newspaper Bild that ski jumpers injected hyaluronic acid into their penises before being measured for their suits.
According to Bild, ski jumpers are measured before each season using a 3D scanner, with the lowest point in the genital area. The measurements are then used to create a seasonally appropriate suit.
While not prohibited in the sport, hyaluronic acid, a lubricant commonly used in skincare, can be injected to increase the circumference of the penis by one or two centimeters, according to the FIS, potentially adding a few millimeters of fabric to the suits. As a result, a skier's flight in the air may improve, potentially benefiting them in competition.
"Every extra centimeter on a suit counts," FIS ski jumping men's race director Sandro Pertile said, according to the BBC. "If your suit has a 5 percent bigger surface area, you fly further."
During a press conference at the Olympics, Olivier Niggli, director general of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), expressed that the organization is not well-informed about the application of hyaluronic acid in sports. He stated, "I'm not aware of the details of ski jumping and how that could improve performance," indicating that any information that arises concerning this substance would be scrutinized for potential doping implications, although WADA does not focus on non-doping methods of performance enhancement. Conversely, Bruno Sassi, communications director for the International Ski Federation (FIS), emphasized that there has never been any evidence suggesting that athletes have utilized hyaluronic acid injections for competitive gain.
Hyaluronic acid is a substance produced naturally by the body, primarily to aid joints and skin hydration, as outlined by the Cleveland Clinic. It is also commonly employed for cosmetic enhancements, such as injections into the penis shaft to increase girth. This non-surgical procedure includes injecting filler into the soft tissue and can have results that last approximately 18 months.
