As the winter Olympics get underway in Milano-Cortina, ski jumping is trying it’s best to keep a rather salacious dooping rumour under wraps. The usually-staid sport is in the spotlight after German newspaper Bild reported male athletes were … injecting hyaluronic acid into their penises? Yup, that’s correct.
Even if its just a rumour, which it sounds more and more like it might not be, it puts ski jumping right up there with some of the wilder excuses cyclists have used to try explain away doping allegations. Which is saying something. From blaming absorbed twins to tainted steaks, Jack Daniels and even one lowly attempt to blame an athlete’s mom, guilty cheats have little to no limit to what they will say to distract from their crimes.
Not the first suit scandal in skiing
While the skiing rumour sounds wild, and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) is trying its best to dispell the story as rumors, athletes are saying there’s substance to the claims. It is a rather, um, sensitive area for FIS. Skiing’s governing body just wrapped up another ski jump scandal related to the same area of the ski suit. Two Norweigan Olympic medalists were suspensded last fall for enlarging the crotch area of their suits after inspection.
Someone made a wildly accurate comparison between the chess cheating fiasco and ’90s doping scandals
This isn’t a matter of show. Suit measurements are strictly controlled in ski jumping to a degree that makes the UCI’s spiderweb of equipment regulations look lax. A jumpers suit can make such a huge difference in performance that the measurements are strictly regulated. A skiier’s suit must be measured before competition to fit each athlete’s body. FIS then uses microchips to ensure only approved suits are used and that they are not adjusted. The two Norweigan’s were caught enlarging the crotch area of approved suits.
Why? Such alterations can significatnly increase the lift a suit gives an athlete, helping them fly further.
Going to great lengths to get an advantage
According to the Bild story, ski jumpers found a way around manipulating the suit. Manipulate what’s being measured. Some male athletes have decided that injecting hyaluronic acid or paraffin into their penis to temporarily increase its size is worth it – the risk and, presumably, some significant discomfort – for the advantage it gives them on the start tower.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…