The World Anti-Doping Agency says it is open to investigating claims about an alleged new method to increase distance in ski jumping.
German newspaper Bild reported in January that ski jumpers have been injecting their penises with hyaluronic acid, which could increase their flight in the air.
When asked about the report Thursday ahead of Olympic ski jumping competition, WADA director general Olivier Niggli said his group could take a deeper dive on the subject.
"I'm not aware of the details of ski jumping and how this can improve (distance), but if anything was to come to the surface, we would look at anything if it is actually doping related," Niggli said. "We don't do other means of enhancing performance, but our list committee would certainly look into whether it would fall into this category."
The BBC reported that hyaluronic acid in the crotch area could increase penis circumference by one or two centimetres.
"Every extra centimetre on a suit counts. If your suit has a five-per-cent bigger surface area, you fly further," FIS ski jumping men's race director Sandro Pertile said.
Frontiers, a scientific journal, published research in October that said an extra 5.8 metres is achieved on every jump with a two-centimetre change in suit size.
This is not the first time ski jumping has come under scrutiny for suit issues.
Three members of the powerful Norwegian team, including two coaches and an additional staff member, were suspended for 18 months in January for manipulating suits to make them more aerodynamic.
Two athletes, Johann André Forfang and Marius Lindvik, accepted three-month suspensions in the summer and will compete at these Games. Neither is a bona fide medal contender. At a broader level, the international body overseeing ski jumping modified some rules — including how suits are measured and their shape — to prevent further attempts at cheating.
The manipulation and restitching of suits was captured on secretly filmed footage and published by media during the world championships.
The first men's ski jumping event at Milano Cortina 2026 is scheduled for Monday.
— with files from AP.
