Olympic gold can require sacrifices that don’t even occur to us, and this year at the Winter Games, ski jumping athletes appear to be injecting hyaluronic acid into their penises. At least, that’s what the World Agency Anti-doping will investigate.
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Following surprising allegations, which first appeared in the German newspaper Bild, the World Agency Anti-doping will investigate whether, in fact, ski jumping athletes are injecting hyaluronic acid into their penises to jump further, in a case already dubbed "Penisgate".
As reported by Bildathletes participating in the Winter Olympic Games, taking place between February 6th and 22nd, will have injected the acid into the penis, in order to manipulate the system, when taking measurements for their suits.
Regulation in this area is strict, as it seeks prevent any athlete from having an aerodynamic advantage.
First, what does hyaluronic acid do to the penis?
According to Eric Chung, professor and urologist surgeon, cited by The Guardian, hyaluronic acid is a common filler used in aesthetic surgery, including injections used in procedures to increase penis circumference.
Inject hyaluronic acid in the penis would make it thicker"but it would be necessary to inject a large amount", according to Chung.
The effect of hyaluronic acid is temporary and requires reinforcement every six to 12 months, depending on the absorption and migration of the particles.
According to the same expert, injecting hyaluronic acid into the penis carries significant risks, both in the short and long term.
An inappropriate injection technique or an incorrect dose can cause penile pain, unsatisfactory aesthetic results, deformation, infection, inflammation, sensory changes and sexual dysfunction. In rare cases, the infection can spread and cause gangrene [ou morte do tecido corporal] and loss of the penis.
Next, how important is penis size in ski jumping?
Before the start of the season, ski jumping athletes must have their suits made based on body length measurements, including crotch height, determined by a 3D body scanner approved by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), in the presence of a doctor, in underwear only and with specific rules about posture.
The surface area of the suit plays a key role in ski jumping. Credit: Tom Weller/Getty Images, via ABC News
As noted above, Associate Professor Dan Dwyer from Deakin University's School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences explained that suit dimensions are strictly regulatedas overall size can have a "significant effect" on the amount of lift generated, allowing athletes to jump further.
Like this, enlarging the penis with hyaluronic acid can provide an advantage during the standard body measurement processas the recorded dimensions would be larger than they would normally be, allowing the athlete to be allowed a slightly larger ski suit.
This slightly larger suit has a larger surface area, which can generate an - albeit small - amount of extra lift.
Indeed, Sandro Pertile, director of the FIS men's events, assures that "in a suit every extra centimeter counts".
As he explained, "if your suit has a 5% larger surface area, you will fly further", and "of course this is a competitive sport and everyone follows the limits of the rules, because everyone wants to win".
