Overview
- Plastic surgeon Alessandro Littara told USA TODAY he treated an athlete from ski jumping last month with a generous hyaluronic acid dose, a claim not independently corroborated.
- The International Ski and Snowboard Federation called the story a wild rumor, saying there is no indication of such injections and citing pre-approved, microchipped suits and pre-jump scans with baseline 3D measurements set earlier in the season.
- WADA said it will review credible evidence to determine whether the practice constitutes doping, noting hyaluronic acid itself is not on the prohibited list.
- Medical experts interviewed by GQ say hyaluronic acid can temporarily increase penile girth, and a 2025 Frontiers study estimated a 2-centimeter suit change could add about 5.8 meters to a jump.
- U.S. ski jumpers denied getting injections, while questions about verification, enforcement, and potential health risks remain unresolved.