MILAN — Ski jumping has been an Olympic sport for more than a century. It has a long and rich history dating back even further than that, first being recorded as a competitive sport in 1908.
It also has a long history of skullduggery, or in other words, cheating.
But no one involved in the sport could ever have imagined that on the eve of the Winter Olympics everyone would be talking about artificially enlarged penises.
But they are, after German newspaper Bild alleged that male athletes have been injecting acid into their penises to enhance performance.
Why would ski jumpers inject their penises with acid?
Appropriately enough, it comes down to length. In ski jumping, scoring is primarily based on distance jumped and style while doing so. Extra length can be achieved by maximising the surface area of the athlete, whose body effectively acts like a sail.
In order to limit the amount of extra material athletes can wear to create that “sail” effect, jumpers are 3D scanned before the season starts to determine the dimensions of the suits they can wear.
Where ski jumpers land heavily affects how many points judges award for each effort (Photo: Reuters)According to media reports, some athletes have been using various devices to increase the size of their genitals temporarily during the scan, therefore buying themselves extra inches of material to help their flight.
One method involves filling a condom-type device filled with silicone to trick the scanner, and another reportedly requires the athlete to inject hyaluronic acid, the same often used in cosmetic filler, into the penis to enlarge it temporarily and create extra surface area.
One experienced sports medical professional told The i Paper the method would not be recommended and does have some associated risks, including possible loss of function.
Is it legal?
There have been plenty of attempts to circumvent the rules in ski jumping over the years. In the 1990s, one athlete used fish skin under his gloves to create more lift. Some of them used hairspray to improve their suits.
During the 2000s, when the governing body introduced a minimum body mass index to deal with a crisis of athletes developing anorexia in an effort to be lighter and jump further, some wore weights in their shoes to beat the scales. And last year, three Norwegian team officials and two athletes were sanctioned for illegally expanding the crotch area of their suits.
But because this latest innovative method has potential to endanger the athlete, it could be banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).
Witold Banka, the Polish president of Wada, said on Thursday with a smile: “Ski jumping is very popular in Poland so I promise you I’m going to look at it.”
How can it be stopped?
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) is confident visible aids like fish skin and implants are not being used, and that athletes are inspected before the body scans to ensure there is no chicanery.
FIS equipment controller Mathias Hafele said: “I can rule out any attempts to enlarge the genitals using visible aids. Medical personnel are present during the measurements and check very carefully.”
Whether they will be able to detect acid injections is another matter.
Hafele did admit that authorities are “already working behind the scenes on methods to improve this complex issue” of suit size.
As well as the pre-season 3D scans, suits are fitted with microchips to prevent substitution or tampering of an approved outfit – and athletes can only wear one suit per competition.
Your next read
square JAMES GRAYI’ve seen Russia’s scariest coach up close – her Olympics return is disgraceful
square OLYMPICS ExplainedI’m an Olympic curling champion – my seven tips to become an armchair expert
square OLYMPICSUnion Jack doormats and 7,000 teabags: Inside Team GB’s Winter Olympics HQ
square DANIEL STOREYLeicester City’s rock bottom is just around the corner
Hence then, the article about are olympic ski jumpers injecting their penises with acid here s what we know was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Are Olympic ski jumpers injecting their penises with acid? Here’s what we know )
Also on site :