Are ski jumpers enhancing their penises to gain advantage in Winter Olympics?

The Winter Olympics have come under intense scrutiny following a bizarre and controversial report alleging that some male ski jumpers are temporarily enhancing their penis size to gain a competitive edge. The practice, which has been likened to a new form of doping, has reportedly caught the attention of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which has vowed to investigate if credible evidence emerges.

The story was first reported by German newspaper Bild, which alleged that certain ski jumpers were attempting to manipulate their suit measurements during mandatory 3D body scans conducted before the season. According to the report, athletes were allegedly injecting hyaluronic acid to temporarily enlarge their penis size, a method said to retain more water in tissue and alter body measurements.

Ski jumpers are required to undergo full-body scans to ensure their suits are skin-tight and within strict regulations. Any excess material is prohibited, as looser suits can provide additional lift during flight. Notably, the crotch of a ski jumping suit is allowed to extend to the bottom of the athlete’s genitals. An increase in measurement at that point could, in theory, allow an athlete to wear a marginally larger suit, offering aerodynamic benefits over the course of a season.

Bild claimed it had uncovered insider discussions suggesting that some athletes were exploiting this loophole by artificially altering their measurements ahead of scans to secure a more forgiving suit -fit.

WHAT IS SKI JUMPING?

Ski jumping is a winter sport in which athletes ski down a steep ramp, known as the inrun, to build speed before launching themselves into the air. Using precise timing and body control, jumpers take off at the end of the ramp and adopt a V-style position mid-air, spreading their skis to maximise lift and stability.

Competitions are judged on both distance and style. Distance points are awarded based on how far an athlete lands relative to a benchmark for the hill, while style points assess posture, balance, flight stability and landing technique. Wind conditions and start-gate adjustments are factored into scoring to maintain fairness.

Hills range from normal and large hills to ski-flying hills, where jumps can exceed 230 metres. The sport places a premium on aerodynamics, making equipment regulations particularly strict.

HOW DOES IT HELP SKI-JUMPERS?

The Athletic reported that temporarily enhanced body measurements could theoretically offer athletes an unfair advantage. A slightly larger or looser suit could function like a sail, catching more air and allowing jumpers to fly further. Research cited by The Athletic, published in the scientific journal Frontiers last October, suggested that a 2cm change in suit size could translate to an additional 5.8 metres in jump distance.

The report also referenced comments made to Bild by Dr Kamran Karim, a senior consultant at Maria-Hilf Hospital in Krefeld, who said: “It is possible to achieve a temporary, visual thickening of the penis by injecting paraffin or hyaluronic acid.”

While no individual athletes have been formally accused, WADA has indicated it would step in if evidence of wrongdoing surfaces. Under its remit, the agency can ban substances or practices that violate the “spirit of sport,” even if they do not fall under traditional performance-enhancing drugs.

WADA's RESPONSE TO PENIS-GATE

Winter Olympics anti-doping officials told Reuters that they are monitoring the situation closely. WADA Director General Olivier Niggli, speaking in Milan ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, said the agency had no current evidence that such practices were taking place but would investigate if necessary.

“I am not aware of the details of ski jumping and how this can improve performance,” Niggli said. “But if any sign was to come to the surface, we will look at it. If it is doping-related, our committee will assess whether it falls within the definition.”

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has yet to issue an official response to the allegations.