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Skiers Caught Using Banned Fluor Wax
11 Feb
Summary
- Two South Korean skiers were disqualified for using banned fluor wax.
- Fluor wax was banned in 2023 due to environmental and health concerns.
- This is the second fluor-related disqualification at the games.
Two South Korean cross-country skiers, Han Dasom and Lee Eui-jin, have been disqualified from the women's sprint qualification time trial due to the use of fluor-based ski wax. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) conducted a routine kit examination, revealing the violation after the qualification races.
Fluor was banned from competition in 2023 due to its harmful effects on the environment and human health. Scientific studies have indicated its polluting nature in melted snow, and the FIS has classified it as a health risk. Despite the ban, cross-country skiers often use specialized waxes to adapt to varying snow conditions, with fluor offering an advantage in humid environments.
The Korea Ski Association has denied intentional wrongdoing, stating that the athletes' products were not fluor wax and had tested negative in previous competitions. They plan to consult with wax and ski manufacturers to determine the source of the issue. This incident follows a similar disqualification of Japanese snowboarder Shiba Masaki earlier in the week.
