The International Ski Federation (FIS) is introducing new standards for anthropometric testing of athletes. The reason for this was reports of possible manipulation of soft tissue to gain an aerodynamic advantage, which received media coverage as “penisgate,” NRK reports.
In modern ski jumping, the area of the overalls and the length of the skis are strictly regulated depending on the height and step height of the athlete. The measurement of the groin area is critical: every additional centimeter of step height allows the use of a wider suit, which increases lift and flight distance.
Earlier, German media, in particular the Bild newspaper, reported that some jumpers may have resorted to medical manipulations, including injections into the genital area, to artificially change the results of step height measurements during technical control.