WADA on lookout over alleged penis‑enlargement claims

VIDEO SHOWS: WADA NEWS CONFERENCE IN WHICH DIRECTOR GENERAL OLIVIER NIGGLI ANSWERS QUESTION ON ALLEGED PENIS ENLARGEMENT IN SKI JUMPING  RESENDING TO PUBLISH FOR WORLD FEED. NO OTHER CHANGES MADE SHOWS: MILAN, ITALY (FEBRUARY 5, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all) 1. NEWS CONFERENCE STARTS 2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) QUESTION FROM FLOOR SAYING:     "Sean Ingle from The Guardian. Last year, some Norwegian ski jumpers and coaches were banned because they were found to have manipulated the crotch area of their costumes. There have been reports in the German press and in America that ski jumpers are now thinking about enlarging their genital areas by injecting hyaluronic  acid. Again, the idea is it improves the dynamics and allows ski jumpers to go further. Two questions. One Has WADA heard of such a method? Is this pure nonsense from Bild? And secondly, surely, what is your message to such athletes? Because surely it would be banned under the code because it poses a health risk and it would violate the spirit of sport? 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WADA DIRECTOR GENERAL OLIVIER NIGGLI SAYING:     "I'm not aware of the the details of ski jumping and how these can improve. But, you know, we….if anything was to to come to the surface, we would look at anything. If, you know, it is actually doping related. We don't do other means of enhancing performance. But you know, our list committee would certainly look into whether this would fall into this category. But we have I haven't heard about that until you mention it." 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WADA PRESIDENT WITOLD BANKA SAYING:      "Ski jumping is very popular in Poland. So I promise you, we are going to look at it. Okay. Yeah." 5. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS STORY: Winter Olympic doping chiefs say they will be on the lookout for any evidence male ski jumpers are artificially enlarging their penises in a bid to manipulate one of the sport's rules and gain an aerodynamic advantage. WADA Director General Olivier Niggli, speaking at a press conference in Milan ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, said the World Anti Doping Agency would explore whether the alleged practice constitutes doping. Niggli was responding to questions following a report in German newspaper Bild which raised fears of some male ski jumpers attempting to manipulate the 3D body‑scanning measurements used to size competition suits by temporarily enlarging their penises. Ski jumpers undergo a full body scan to ensure their skin-tight suits do not have extra material which would give them more lift as they soar through the air. The crotch of a ski jumper's suit is allowed to run to the bottom of the athlete's genitals, meaning an enlarged penis would give them more potentially performance-enhancing material. The Bild report said the newspaper had discovered insider talk of athletes injecting hyaluronic acid into their penis to alter their suit measurement point thereby securing a larger, more aerodynamic suit for the duration of the season. Niggli said WADA had no indication the alleged practices were taking place and stressed WADA only intervenes when a method of cheating falls within the definition of doping. "I am not aware of the details of ski jumping and how this can improve (the performance), but if any sign was to come to the surface, we will look at it. I haven't heard about that until you mention it," he told reporters in Milan. "If it is actually doping related – we don't do other means of enhancing performance – but our committee (annually reviewing banned substances) will certainly look to whether it falls into this category," he added. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) did not respond to a request for comment. The issue has drawn attention partly because suit manipulation has previously led to sanctions in the sport. Two of Norway’s Olympic medallists, Marius Lindvik and Johann Andre Forfang, were suspended for three months last year after their team was found to have secretly adjusted seams around the crotch area of their suits at the 2025 World Ski Championships. Three members of the coaching staff were also banned. WADA President Witold Banka, asked about the reports on Thursday, responded with a smile, saying ski jumping was very popular in his native Poland and that he would look into the matter. (Production: Noemie Olive, Iain Axon)

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