South Korean pair disqualified for using banned wax

Two South Korean cross-country skiers have been disqualified at the Winter Olympics after a banned type of wax was found on their skis.

Han Dasom and Lee Eui-jin were disqualified from the qualification round for the women’s classic sprint after their equipment “tested positive for fluor”, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) said.

Fluor – or fluorinated ski wax – has been banned by the FIS since the 2023-24 season.

It is water-repellent and was originally used on sailboats to make them glide better before being introduced to skiing in the 1980s.

There were also health and environmental concerns as it does not biodegrade and is a ‘forever chemical’, while it has also been linked with a number of illnesses and conditions.

The FIS said the Korean pair had allegedly violated a rule that bans fluorinated wax because it “can be a competitive advantage”.