The notion of injecting hyaluronic acid into the penis can be unsettling, yet it is at the core of the contentious ‘penis gate’ incident at this year’s Winter Olympics.
Prior to the opening ceremony on Friday (February 6), officials are making adjustments to ensure there are no violations among ski jumpers.
German publication Bild revealed earlier this month that ski jumpers at the 2025 Nordic World Ski Championships in Norway were enhancing their genital area using substances like hyaluronic acid.
Athletes aim to enlarge their crotch area to allow for a bigger ski jumping suit. This adjustment can increase lift, providing a competitive edge.
To counter this, officials have introduced measures including advanced 3D body suit measurements to detect any foul play.
The suits are equipped with tamper-proof microchips to prevent any form of alteration.
A yellow and red card system has been put in place for breaches. Offenders will receive a yellow card, escalating to red for repeated infractions.
This results in disqualification from the subsequent event and the team losing a skier slot, according to The Sun.
So, what happens if you inject hyaluronic acid into your penis?
Professor Eric Chung, a urological surgeon, told the Guardian that while it can increase girth, a large amount of hyaluronic acid is required.
Moreover, this procedure carries significant short and long-term risks.
“Poorly injected technique or incorrect dose would cause penile pain, poor cosmesis [disfigurement], deformity, infection, inflammation, sensory change, and sexual dysfunction,” Professor Chung stated.
“In rare instances, infection can spread to cause gangrene (tissue necrosis) and loss of the penis.”
Bruno Sassi, spokesperson for the international ski federation, FIS, told the Associated Press: “There have been disqualifications in the past, many. It’s part of the sport. But there had never been that kind of a brazen attempt to not only bend the rules, but like downright do something … to cheat the system in a way that it is very different from simply having a suit that is a tad too long or a tad too loose.”