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Two South Korean Skiers Disqualified at Olympics for Banned Wax After Probe Cites Supplier Error

Korean officials now attribute the positive test to contaminated wax from a supplier.

Dasom Han of Team South Korea competes in the Women's Sprint Classic Qualification on day four of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium on February 10, 2026 in Val di Fiemme, Italy. (Photo by Tom Weller/Getty Images)
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Han Dasom of Team Republic of Korea is among three athletes disqualified from Olympic competition for reportedly violating a ban on waxes containing PFAS.

Overview

  • FIS testers detected fluorinated wax on the skis of Han Dasom and Lee Eui-jin during post-race checks after the women’s classic sprint qualification on Feb. 10 in Val di Fiemme, triggering immediate disqualifications.
  • The athletes’ results were expunged from official Olympic records in line with equipment rules that ban fluor-containing products.
  • A KSOC field inquiry found fluor in products the team believed were compliant, while the Korea Ski Association defended the athletes, warned the supplier, and replaced affected skis.
  • Fluorinated wax, banned since the 2023/24 season due to PFAS-linked health and environmental risks, is checked using FTIR spectroscopy as part of routine enforcement at finish-area test zones.
  • Both skiers, ranked 157th and 158th in the World Cup, later raced in the 10km freestyle on Thursday with their results standing as further investigations continue.