Two South Korean cross-country skiers, Dasom Han and Eui-jin Lee, have been disqualified from the qualification round for the women's classic sprint event at the Winter Olympics. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) announced that their equipment tested positive for fluorinated ski wax, which has been banned by the FIS since the 2023-24 season.
Fluorinated wax, also known as "forever chemical," is a water-repellent substance that was originally used on sailboats to make them glide better. It was introduced to skiing in the 1980s and has been linked to several health problems and environmental concerns due to its inability to biodegrade.
The FIS ruled that Han and Lee had violated a rule that bans fluorinated wax because it can be a competitive advantage. The pair, who were not expected to medal at the Milan-Cortina Games, were instead ranked 157th and 158th in the World Cup respectively going into the competition.
This latest development highlights the ongoing efforts by the FIS and other governing bodies to crack down on doping in winter sports, particularly in cross-country skiing. The ban on fluorinated wax is part of a broader push to reduce the environmental impact of ski equipment and ensure fair play among athletes.
Fluorinated wax, also known as "forever chemical," is a water-repellent substance that was originally used on sailboats to make them glide better. It was introduced to skiing in the 1980s and has been linked to several health problems and environmental concerns due to its inability to biodegrade.
The FIS ruled that Han and Lee had violated a rule that bans fluorinated wax because it can be a competitive advantage. The pair, who were not expected to medal at the Milan-Cortina Games, were instead ranked 157th and 158th in the World Cup respectively going into the competition.
This latest development highlights the ongoing efforts by the FIS and other governing bodies to crack down on doping in winter sports, particularly in cross-country skiing. The ban on fluorinated wax is part of a broader push to reduce the environmental impact of ski equipment and ensure fair play among athletes.
i mean who uses that stuff anyway? like sailboats or whatever but seriously ski wax shouldnt be that hard to regulate lol. cant believe these girls got caught tho 
and now their worlds cup hopes are just... gone 
at least its good for the environment though, idk how many more "forever chemicals" we can take 
... can't say I'm surprised though, it's like they all just try to cheat to get ahead in the world cup rankings 
. but seriously, fluorinated wax is such a dirty substance and its effects on the environment are no joke 
. i guess it's all about finding a balance between progress and fair play, right? 
... anyway, I hope the other skiers stay clean and show everyone what they're made of 
. cross-country skiing's already tough enough without worrying about getting disqualified because of some dodgy wax... guess you can't have it both ways: speed and sustainability 
. They seemed like total underdogs going into that competition, but now it's all about their team and how they handled the situation... I mean, who knew fluorinated wax was a thing in ski racing? 
It's crazy to think about how far-reaching its effects are - from health issues to environmental concerns 
. It's like, what's the point of all this testing when it comes down to a tiny mistake or miscommunication with your supplier? 
And another thing, fluorinated wax is basically banned everywhere except in winter sports 
. Can't we just have one set of rules for everyone? 
It's like, I get that doping is bad, but can't it be handled in a more nuanced way? 
. But, man, it feels like we're just moving the goalposts here 
️. Can't we just have clean equipment that doesn't affect anyone's health or environment? 
. I mean, we've known about the environmental concerns and health issues with this stuff since forever! 
. The FIS needs to be on top of its game when it comes to enforcing the rules and keeping things fair 
. I hope this ban sends a clear message that doping won't fly in winter sports anymore 
they seemed like such promising skiers 
let's hope this is a wake-up call for everyone involved 
. But at the same time, I get why the FIS is doing it... pollution and all that jazz 
.
? And now they're getting punished for trying to level the playing field? I mean, I get it, fluorinated wax is bad news for the environment and all that jazz, but can't we just have a conversation about how to address this issue instead of demonizing the athletes who use it? 
. I mean, they didn't exactly win or anything... 157th and 158th is not great, but it's not like they were cheating on steroids or something 
. Maybe the FIS should just focus on making sure everyone follows the rules instead of being super strict all the time? 
. The FIS is doing the right thing by cracking down on this stuff, especially since it's linked to health problems & environmental concerns 