South Korean Olympic Skiers Han Dasom and Lee Eui-jin Get Disqualified in Milan After Banned Fluor Wax Is Found on Their Cross-Country Skis

The Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo have already been full of unexpected headlines, but now the attention has shifted to a very real and confirmed controversy.

Two Olympic cross-country skiers have been disqualified after officials discovered a banned substance on their skis, adding another layer of drama to a Games that has barely even settled into its rhythm.

South Korean Skiers Disqualified After Routine Checks

The athletes involved are Han Dasom and Lee Eui-jin of South Korea.

Both were competing in the women’s sprint qualifiers when their equipment was inspected.

During those routine controls, officials found traces of fluorinated wax on their skis, a substance that has been prohibited under International Ski and Snowboard Federation rules since the start of the 2023–24 season.

The federation confirmed their disqualification on Tuesday, making it clear that enforcement around ski preparation has become far stricter than in past Olympic cycles.

What Fluor Wax Is and Why It Was Once Everywhere

Fluorinated wax, often simply called “fluor,” has a long history in skiing.

It gained popularity in the 1980s because of its ability to improve glide, helping skis move faster across snow.

Interestingly, it wasn’t even invented for skiing at first.

The technology was originally used in sailing, where reducing friction against water can be just as valuable as reducing friction against snow.

Over time, fluor wax became one of those tools that many teams leaned on, especially in high-level competition where tiny advantages can separate winners from the rest of the field.

Why the Substance Was Outlawed

The ban, however, has little to do with sporting fairness and far more to do with environmental and health concerns.

Fluorinated compounds are considered “forever chemicals,” meaning they do not biodegrade naturally.

They persist in ecosystems, contaminate water sources, and create long-term risks for wildlife and humans alike.

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation announced the ban back in 2019, but the rule only came fully into force four years later.

That delay was meant to give teams time to adjust, but now that the prohibition is active, officials have made clear that violations will not be overlooked.

The Disqualified Skiers Were Not Medal Favorites

Neither Han nor Lee were expected to contend for medals, with both athletes ranked deep in the World Cup standings at 157th and 158th going into Tuesday’s event.

Still, an Olympic disqualification is a serious moment, regardless of podium expectations, and it raises uncomfortable questions about whether the contamination was accidental, careless, or linked to outdated preparation methods.

The Olympics Were Already Dealing With “Penis-Gate”

This incident comes only days after Olympic skiing was caught up in one of the strangest sagas the sport has seen in years.

Unsubstantiated rumors began circulating that male ski jumpers were injecting hyaluronic acid into their genitals to gain a competitive advantage, a bizarre storyline that social media quickly labeled “penis-gate.”

While the claims were never proven, they drew attention because ski jumping has a long history of equipment-related controversy, especially when it comes to suits.

Why Ski Jumping Equipment Is Under Intense Scrutiny

Ski jumping is a sport where aerodynamics matter enormously.

Even small changes in a suit’s surface area can alter drag and lift, effectively allowing an athlete to glide farther.

That is why officials conduct rigorous checks, and this season athletes have even undergone 3D body scans to determine the correct size of their suits and prevent tampering.

Scientific studies have shown just how sensitive the sport is to these details.

Research published in Frontiers suggested that increasing suit circumference by only two centimeters could reduce drag significantly and increase lift enough to add nearly six extra meters to a jump.

Norway’s Suit Scandal Still Casts a Shadow

Concerns about manipulation aren’t theoretical.

At the world championships in March 2025, Norway’s team was caught adjusting seams around the crotch area of their suits in an attempt to gain an advantage.

The fallout was severe, with head coach Magnus Brevik, his assistant Thomas Lobben, and staff member Adrian Livelten all receiving lengthy bans.

Athletes Marius Lindvik and Johann Andre Forfang were also suspended temporarily, though investigators concluded they were not aware of the scheme.

Back in Italy, Forfang finished ninth in the normal hill event, while Lindvik placed seventeenth.

What’s Next?

For Han Dasom and Lee Eui-jin, the disqualification almost certainly ends their Olympic participation, and the South Korean team may face further scrutiny over how ski equipment was handled and prepared.

More broadly, these Games are shaping up to be defined not just by athletic performance but by how strictly rules are enforced around equipment, chemicals, and competitive integrity.

With the Olympics still underway, officials are likely to remain vigilant, and more controversies could surface as athletes continue searching for even the smallest edge.

Summary

Two South Korean cross-country skiers were disqualified from the Winter Olympics after fluorinated wax, a banned “forever chemical,” was found on their skis.

The substance was once popular for improving glide but was outlawed due to its toxic environmental impact.

The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny in Olympic skiing, following bizarre “penis-gate” rumors and lingering memories of Norway’s recent ski suit manipulation scandal.

As the Games continue, strict enforcement of equipment rules is becoming one of the defining storylines.