Anti-doping chiefs have said they will look into extraordinary claims that Olympic ski jumpers have injected acid into their penises to enhance performance.
While Witold Banka delivered his warning here in Milan, host of the Winter Games, on Thursday with a wry smile in response to one of the more unusual questions he has faced during his presidency at the World Anti-Doping Agency, there may be some legitimacy to the concerns.
Ski jumpers are subjected to 3D scanners to measure their body suits, because any excess material can create a sail-like effect, in particular in the crotch area, that experts say can lengthen a leap by almost six metres.
Excess material in the crotch area of ski jumping suits can create a sail-like effect
LEON KUEGELER/REUTERS
Indeed, there was a scandal involving the Norwegians at last year’s World Championships, when it was found they had adjusted the seams to increase the surface area in that part of their suits, which by then had been fitted with microchips to make sure the athletes were wearing the pre-measured garments.
Magnus Brevik, their head coach, his assistant coach, Thomas Lobben, and another staff member, Adrian Livelten, received 18-month bans. The defending Olympic large hill ski jump champion, Marius Lindvik, and two-times medallist Johann Andre Forfang received three-month suspensions. It was found the athletes were not aware of the suit manipulation.
However, reports in Germany suggest athletes and their coaches may have discovered an alternative method for gaining extra material, by increasing the size of their genitalia for when they have their suits fitted. In ski jumping, it seems, size does matter.
Lindvik received a three-month suspension after the Norwegian team were found to have tampered with their suits at last year’s World Championships
JULIA PIATKOWSKA/ACTION PRESS/SHUTTERSTOCK
“Penis-gate”, as it was described last month by Bild, was prompted by concerns that athletes may be injecting hyaluronic acid into their genitals to make them grow beyond their normal size. There has also been talk of athletes depositing clay in their underwear or wearing silicon condoms.
Bild quoted Dr Kamran Karim, a senior consultant at the Maria-Hilf Hospital in Krefeld, who said that injecting paraffin or hyaluronic acid would create a temporary “thickening” effect. But he also said it was not a medically indicated method and would come with associated health risks.
This is where Wada comes in, because the agency’s code covers the welfare of athletes as well as performance enhancement.
One study by the scientific journal, Frontiers, found that for every 2cm a suit size circumference is increased, drag is reduced by 4 per cent and lift is increased by 5 per cent, equivalent to an extra 5.8 metres in jump length.
“Ski jumping is very popular in Poland so I promise you I’m going to look at it,” Banka said.
Olivier Niggli, the director general of Wada, said: “I’m not aware of the details of ski jumping — and how this can improve — 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.”
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As yet, no athlete has been found to have enhanced the size of their genitalia before a suit fitting but the International Ski Federation (FIS) has said it is conscious of a desire among some competitors to “cheat the system”.
The first training session for the ski jumpers takes place on Friday at the Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium.