Two South Korean skaters have been disqualified after an illegal substance was found on their skates
Two South Korean cross-country skiers were disqualified from the tournament Women’s Classic Sprint at the Winter Olympics after their skis tested positive for a banned substance, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation said Tuesday.
Han Dasom and Lee Eui-jin were disqualified after their skis tested positive for fluorinated wax, or fluorine, a substance banned in 2023 due to its harmful effects on the environment and human health.
The Korean Skating Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Fluorinated wax was originally used in sailboats to aid glide and came to skiing, a sport where gliding is also crucial, in the late 1980s, according to the FIS.
The material does not biodegrade, making it called a “forever chemical” and can pose a health risk to ski technicians who may apply the wax with a hot iron in poorly ventilated areas.
The Islamic Salvation Front announced a ban on fluorine in 2019, which came into full effect in the 2023/2024 season. Skis are checked in the testing area, often near the finish line.
Han and Li, ranked 157th and 158th respectively, were not expected to be in contention for medals in Tuesday’s race.
