The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is investigating allegations that ski jumpers may have used penis fillers to gain an unfair advantage at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The claims, first reported by German newspaper Bild, suggest athletes injected hyaluronic acid—a common dermal filler—into their penises to temporarily increase girth.
The alleged tactic exploits the pre-competition 3D body scanning process. Ski jumpers are scanned to ensure their suits fit tightly, maximising aerodynamics. By enlarging the penis before the scan, athletes could secure a looser suit, providing extra surface area and potentially longer jumps. A 2025 study found that a 2.8-centimetre increase in suit size could yield an extra 5.8 metres of lift.
This is not the first suit-manipulation scandal in ski jumping. Three Norwegian team officials were recently banned for 18 months for tampering with athletes' suits. WADA Director General Olivier Niggli stated at a Milan press conference: 'I am not aware of the details of ski jumping and how this can improve [performance], but if any sign was to come to the surface, we will look at it.'
No athletes have been formally accused. Niggli added that WADA's committee would assess whether the practice constitutes doping. The investigation continues as the sporting world awaits clarity on this unusual controversy.
