Genital Injections Spark Cheating Allegations at Winter Olympics
It’s not uncommon for athletes to go to any lengths to put themselves in a position to win, but this could be going a little too far.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has confirmed it is investigating allegations that male ski jumpers at this year’s Winter Olympics in Italy injected hyaluronic acid into their penises in the hope of gaining a competitive advantage.
How could this help an athlete during a ski jumping competition?
According to the German publication, Picturewhich first reported the controversy in January, suggests athletes are artificially enlarging their penises before official measurements to get larger competition suits.
Apparently, a larger suit size can greatly improve a ski jumper’s performance.
As GB News reports, “Research published in the scientific journal Frontiers showed that a mere two centimeters increase in suit circumference reduced drag by 4% while increasing lift by 5%.
“Such modifications result in approximately 5.8 additional meters in jumping distance.”
WADA Director General Olivier Niggli confirmed his agency’s determination to investigate the allegations, although he is unsure how an enlarged groin area can benefit a ski jumper.
“I don’t know the details of ski jumping – or how it can improve – but if something comes to the surface we would look into everything if it is actually related to doping,” Niggli said.
The answer to this question comes from Sandro Pertile, FIS men’s ski jumping event director, who says: “Every extra centimeter on a suit counts. If your suit has 5 percent more surface area, you fly further.”
It is unclear what the investigation will yield, given that hyaluronic acid is currently a legal substance.
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