The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is probing the potential use of hyaluronic acid injections in the genitals of Olympic ski jumpers for enhanced aerodynamic performance, sparking a controversy dubbed “penisgate.” Experts are cautioning about the hazards associated with such injections. The Daily Mail reports on this development as the sport commences.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is examining claims that Olympic ski jumpers were injecting hyaluronic acid into their genitals to improve their aerodynamic properties – a controversy nicknamed “penisgate”. Experts have disclosed the potential risks of such injections as the sport gets underway, according to the Daily Mail.
Details
The initial accusations surfaced in the German publication Bild, asserting that expert athletes were injecting the substance, typically utilized as a cosmetic filler, straight into their genitals to secure a competitive edge.
Although the claims are yet to be substantiated, specialists have voiced reservations about the possible dangers, warning that it could bring about infection, deformation, necrosis, or even result in limb removal.
According to Dr. Shirin Lakhani, a prominent aesthetic doctor at Elite Aesthetics, shots of hyaluronic acid into the penis, often employed in rejuvenation and size augmentation treatments, will enlarge it.
In such a circumstance, athletes would need a larger suit with a bigger surface area, which would boost the lift an athlete can create during the event, thereby enabling them to jump greater distances.
As Sandro Pertile, head of men's competitions for the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), clarified: “Every added centimeter of the suit is important.”
“If the surface area of your suit is 5 percent greater, you jump farther. Certainly, it's a competitive activity, and participants are pushing the limits of the regulations because everyone wants to triumph,” he informed the Guardian.
A bigger suit corresponds to a larger surface area, widened by the V-shaped stance of the legs in the crotch, which helps athletes to jump further.
However, to attain significant outcomes, a man requires injections into the penis every six to twelve months, contingent on the absorption and dispersal of particles, the publication notes.
Hyaluronic acid – a naturally occurring molecule that is essential for maintaining skin suppleness – is injected into the delicate tissues beneath the skin of the penis.
It is believed that a solitary hyaluronic acid molecule can retain up to 1,000 times its weight in water, thus aiding in the establishment of structure, support, and bulk in the treated region.
Nevertheless, hyaluronic acid injections into the penis also involve considerable risks, cautions Dr. Lakhani.
“Similarly to fillers in other regions of the body, severe complications can arise if the filler enters a blood vessel, ranging from infection to granulomas – minor lumps beneath the skin,” she stated.
In infrequent instances, as noted by Japanese physicians in 2021, this can provoke gangrene, a severe condition where a disruption in blood flow causes body tissues to expire.
In some non-surgical procedures, the acid is mixed with the patient's own platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which imitates the body's inherent response to trauma, fostering the creation of new blood vessels and the development of nerve fibers.
“You should be wary of those offering penile fillers at a cost that seems 'too good to be true' or promise results that appear implausible,” advises Dr. Lakhani.
Indicators encompass typical side effects of the procedure, including dermal inflammation.
The primary course of action for gangrene is surgical removal of the impaired tissue, referred to as debridement, but in more critical situations, the amputation of the entire body part may be required.
When performed incorrectly or in the incorrect quantity, including, according to Dr. Lakhani, exceeding 10 ml of penile filler, additional common symptoms include discomfort, deformity, irritation, altered sensation, and erectile issues.
FIS Public Relations Manager Bruno Sassi affirms: “There has never been any indication, let alone proof, that any competitor has ever employed hyaluronic acid injections to achieve a competitive advantage.”