3 min readCROTCHGATE IS THE latest controversy to hit the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic Winter Games. The World Anti-Doping Agency is currently investigating allegations that arose from an article published in the German newspaper Bild claiming insider information of ski jumpers injecting their penis with hyaluronic acid.
Sticking a syringe in your penis might sound terrifying, but it’s a legit cosmetic procedure. It’s a non-surgical treatment where hyaluronic acid dermal filler—the same gel-like substance used for lip and cheek filler—is shot into the shaft of the penis. The result? Increased girth.
So here’s the big question—what does enhancing your penis have to do with enhancing your performance outside the bedroom?
The theory is that it would give skiers an aerodynamic advantage. Here’s how it works.
Ski jumpers would want as much surface area against the air to increase the length of their jumps. One way is to wear extra-baggy suits.
"Research and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation guidance highlight that even 1-centimeter of extra circumference in key areas can add noticeable distance, which is why recent scandals have focused on manipulation of the crotch region and enforcement using detailed 3D measurements," explains Robert Glatter, MD, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital and MH advisor. He was also a doctor with NBC in the Rio 2016 Olympics.
To ensure a fair advantage, each ski jumper completes a 3D-body scan. Their ski jumping suits are then sized up based on the scan results. Temporarily enlarging the penis while performing these scans would create inaccurate measurements, allowing for extra material in their garb.
"The premise to use hyaluronic acid penile injections is based on the false assumption that temporarily enlarging the penis before body‑scan suit measurements are made will result in an athlete being issued a slightly larger, more “sail‑like” suit," says Glatter.
This isn’t the first cheating scandal involving ski jumpers. Three team officials in Norway were recently banned for 18 months for manipulating their suits. Glatter notes similar tricks with local padding has also led to sanctions in the past.
In a recent press conference in Milan, Olivier Niggli, the director general of WADA, says "I am not aware of the details of ski jumping and how this can improve [performance], but if any sign was to come to the surface, we will look at it.”
There is one 2025 study that found a 2.8-centimeter increase in a suit can net an extra 5.8 meters of lift. "Enlarging the suit by 2 cm increased the lift and drag force by 5 percent and 4 percent, respectively," wrote the researchers. "An increase in both aerodynamic forces and the [lift-to-drag] ratio was seen, which provides a benefit by reducing vertical velocity and increasing horizontal velocity."
Still, Glatter says that doesn't mean penis fillers can accomplish this.
"There is no direct data showing how reliably genital injections alone can produce that full 2-centimeter suit increase under real-world conditions," he explains. "In reality, the practice is being framed as a “loophole” attempt in rules regarding suit measurements and mechanics, rather than a proven performance enhancer."
Plus there's the risk of side effects. While rare, Glatter says hyaluronic penis fillers may cause infection, blood vessel complications, and penile deformities.
So far, no ski jumper has been formally accused of using penis fillers to fly farther. As the investigation continues, so will the decision of whether this rule-bending tactic could be considered doping. "If it is actually doping related—we don't do other means of enhancing performance—but our committee will certainly look to whether it falls into this category," says Niggli.
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, MS is the associate health & fitness for Men's Health and has previously written for CNN, Scientific American, Popular Science, and National Geographic before joining the brand. When she's not working, she's doing circus arts or working towards the perfect pull-up.
