2026 Winter Olympics: South Korean pair skating pair disqualified for using banned wax

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

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) said Han Dasom and Lee Eui-jin were disqualified from the qualifying round for the women’s classic speed race after their equipment “tested positive for fluorine.”

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

It is water repellent and was originally used in sailboats, external To make it slide better before it was introduced to skateboarding in the 1980s.

There have also been health and environmental concerns because it does not biodegrade and is a forever chemical, while it has also been linked to a number of diseases and conditions.

The Islamic Salvation Front said the Korean couple violated a rule banning fluorinated wax because it “could be a competitive advantage.”

Han and Li, who finished 157th and 158th at the World Cup, were not expected to compete for medals at the Milan-Cortina Games.