Why athletes inject hyaluronic acid into their genitals. Unbelievable scandal in the world of ski jumping

The world of sports has become a business, even in the less publicized disciplines. Thus, a new scandal broke out in the world of ski jumping, after the revelations of journalists from the German newspaper Bild.

Every millimeter of the suit counts in ski jumping. FIS Ski Jumping Facebook photo

In a sport where equipment is decisive, jumpers try any method to benefit from a looser suit and by implication more lift and longer jumps. According to German information, some athletes have ended up injecting hyaluronic acid to enlarge their penises or putting on silicone condoms to get a wider and more aerodynamic suit.

How did it get here? The International Ski Federation (FIS) strictly regulates the surface of each jumper's suit. The size is determined by measuring the distance from the neck to the lowest point of the genital area using a 3D scanner. And the second reference point is artificially “moved” by athletes by enlarging the penis with the help of hyaluronic acid injection or the use of silicone-filled condoms. If this measurement point is moved down, the suit will automatically have a larger surface area, resulting in improved lift.

The change of measurement method is taken into account

According to Bild, some nations are already requesting another body scan measurement by the FIS ahead of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Matthias Hafele, the head of the International Federation's equipment department, would not comment on rumors about the methods by which athletes try to cheat, but admitted that a change in this regard is being considered.

“Currently, no further measurements are planned. However, we are already working behind the scenes on methods to improve this difficult problem. The goal is to ensure that the bone structure, and not the soft tissues, is the deciding factor for the measurement.” he told Bild.