2026 Olympics may have a second ‘penis-gate’

To paraphrase Al Pacino from the movie “Any Given Sunday,” life is just a game of inches, and so is ski jumping. 

Where those inches count was the top of the conversation during a press conference held by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) president Witold Banka after he was asked about allegations that ski jumpers were injecting hyaluronic acid into their penises to help them go farther on jumps. 

German newspaper Bild first reported the claims in January, explaining that enlarging the genital area allowed athletes to wear slightly larger ski jumping suits — which would allow them to create more lift, increase their aerodynamics and help them add distance. 

Asked about the claims at a press conference on Thursday, Banka and WADA director general Oliver Niggli assured people that the agency would investigate any evidence of wrongdoing.

“I’m not aware of the details of ski jumping and how it can improve but if anything was to come to the surface we would look at anything if it is actually doping related,” Niggli said, while trying to contain some laughter at the topic, during a Thursday Press conference in Milan. “We don’t do other means of enhancing performance but our list committee would certainly look into whether this would fall into this category. But I haven’t heard about that until you mentioned.”

The report out of Germany was based on chatter “behind the scenes” in the ski jump world and no athletes have been accused or have been proven guilty of using the bizarre practice. 

The report by Bild cited comments by Dr. Kamran Karim, who said that it was possible to “achieve a temporary, visual thickening” of the male genital area by injecting hyaluronic acid.

“Ski jumping is very popular in Poland so I promise you I’m going to look at it,” said Banka, who is Polish. 

While the claims may seem outlandish, ski jumping is trying to rebound after a massive controversy last year resulted in 18-month bans to two coaches and a suit technician with Norway’s ski jumping team for manipulating the suits of two skiers, adding extra fabric near the crotches of their suits at the 2025 Ski Jumping World Championships. 

Marius Lindvik and Johann André Forfang were also given three-month bans over the scandal. 

That scandal resulted in the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) implementing new rules that went into effect ahead of this year’s Winter Olympics.