Sports
Ski Jumping: WADA on lookout over alleged penis-enhancement claims
Jan 9, 2026; Livigno, ITALY; A drone view shows the big ski jump in the Livigno Snow Park, which will host all Snowboard and Freestyle Skiing events, including disciplines like Halfpipe, Slopestyle, Big Air, Ski Cross, Snowboard Cross, Moguls, Aerials, and Parallel Giant Slalom in preparation for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Mandatory Credit: Yara Nardi/Reuters via Imagn Images MILAN, Feb 5 (Reuters) — Winter Olympic doping chiefs say they will be on the lookout for any evidence male ski jumpers are artificially enlarging their penises in a bid to manipulate one of the sport’s rules and gain an aerodynamic advantage.
WADA Director General Olivier Niggli, speaking at a press conference in Milan ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, said the World Anti Doping Agency would explore whether the alleged practice constitutes doping.
Niggli was responding to questions following a report in German newspaper Bild which raised fears of some male ski jumpers attempting to manipulate the 3D body-scanning measurements used to size competition suits by temporarily enlarging their penises.
Ski jumpers undergo a full body scan to ensure their skin-tight suits do not have extra material which would give them more lift as they soar through the air. The crotch of a ski jumper’s suit is allowed to run to the bottom of the athlete’s genitals, meaning an enlarged penis would give them more potentially performance-enhancing material.
The Bild report said the newspaper had discovered insider talk of athletes injecting hyaluronic acid into their penis to alter their suit measurement point, thereby securing a larger, more aerodynamic suit for the duration of the season.
Niggli said WADA had no indication the alleged practices were taking place and stressed WADA only intervenes when a method of cheating falls within the definition of doping.
“I am not aware of the details of ski jumping and how this can improve (the performance), but if any sign was to come to the surface, we will look at it. I haven’t heard about that until you mention it,” he told reporters in Milan.
“If it is actually doping related — we don’t do other means of enhancing performance — but our committee (annually reviewing banned substances) will certainly look to whether it falls into this category,” he added.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) did not respond to a request for comment.
The issue has drawn attention partly because suit manipulation has previously led to sanctions in the sport.
Two of Norway’s Olympic medalists, Marius Lindvik and Johann Andre Forfang, were suspended for three months last year after their team was found to have secretly adjusted seams around the crotch area of their suits at the 2025 World Ski Championships.
Three members of the coaching staff were also banned.
WADA President Witold Banka, asked about the reports on Thursday, responded with a smile, saying ski jumping was very popular in his native Poland and that he would look into the matter.
–Reuters, special to Field Level Media
Sports
VP JD Vance, Italian PM meet amid worries over US security presence at Games
U.S. Vice President JD Vance holds a bilateral meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during his visit to the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, on Friday. MILAN, Italy — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Friday, hours before the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, using the encounter to reaffirm the strength of U.S.-Italian ties despite tensions around the presence of U.S. security personnel at the Games.
The meeting also was attended by Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, and Antonio Tajani, Italy’s foreign minister.
“They are here for the opening ceremony of the Olympics, but it is also an opportunity for us to discuss our bilateral relations,” Meloni said after welcoming the two U.S. leaders at the Milan prefecture, according to Italian news agency ANSA.
“Italy and the United States have always maintained very significant ties,” she added, stressing that the two governments were working to strengthen cooperation across multiple fronts and address ongoing international issues.
Her words were echoed by Vance.
“We love Italy and the Italian people. As you said, we have many excellent relations, many economic connections and partnerships,” he said.
“In the Olympic spirit, competition is based on rules. It’s good to have shared values, and we will have a very constructive exchange on many topics.”
Energy security and the creation of safe and reliable supply chains for critical minerals also were among topics discussed during the talks, along with the latest developments in Iran and Venezuela, the Italian prime minister’s office said in a statement issued later in the day.
The meeting comes amid a backlash in Italy following the disclosure that analysts linked to a branch under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would support the U.S. delegation during the Games.
The news triggered political criticism and concerns that spectators might boo U.S. athletes or officials.
Over the past week, hundreds of demonstrators — including student groups and families — have staged protests across Milan highlighting ICE’s record and demanding clarity on its role in Italy.
Meloni, speaking in a Thursday night interview with broadcast group Mediaset, called the uproar “surreal,” stressing that the investigative branch involved has long cooperated with Italy.
“It has never carried out, could never carry out, and will never carry out police operations — immigration enforcement or checks — on our territory,” she said.
–Reuters, special to Field Level Media
Sports
LAFC acquire M Stephen Eustaquio on loan from Porto
Nov 23, 2022; Al Rayyan, Qatar; Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne (red jersey) and Canada midfielder Stephen Eustaquio battle for control during the first half of a group stage match during the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-Imagn Images Los Angeles FC acquired midfielder Stephen Eustaquio on loan from Portuguese club FC Porto, the team announced Friday.
Eustaquio, who is signed through the end of June with an option to buy, will occupy an international spot.
Since joining Porto in January 2022, he notched 12 goals and 11 assists in 156 matches across all competitions. He also played at fellow Portuguese sides Torreense, Leixoes, Chaves and Pacos Ferreira, as well as LIGA MX powerhouse Cruz Azul.
“Stephen is a top-class midfielder with extensive international experience who knows what it takes to win and lead at the highest level,” LAFC general manager John Thorrington said in a statement. “We’re excited to add a player of his quality, and we’re confident he will have an immediate, positive impact on the group both on and off the field.”
The 29-year-old has four goals in 54 caps for his native Canada, playing in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the 2024 Copa America.
LAFC will begin the upcoming season with a visit from MLS Cup champion Inter Miami on Feb. 21.
–Field Level Media
Sports
How the Patriots Can Upset the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX
Feb 4, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) speaks to the media at the Santa Clara Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images The New England Patriots enter Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks as underdogs, but unlike Super Bowl XX, when the Chicago Bears KO’d New England 46-10, the Patriots do have more than a puncher’s chance against the Seahawks.
Here’s what New England will have to do Sunday to pave a path to victory:
Improve on offense
Quarterback Drake Maye looked like an MVP candidate during the regular season, when he directed a New England offense that was second among NFL teams in points per game (28.8) and third in yards per game (379.2). That offense hasn’t been nearly as effective in the postseason, however.
The Patriots are averaging 18 points per game in the playoffs. That point total includes a defensive TD New England scored during its 28-16 victory over Houston in the AFC’s divisional round.
Many of the offense’s problems in the playoffs have come on third down and in the red zone. The Patriots have converted on 13 of their 43 third-down attempts, and entered the end zone twice in six trips inside their opponents’ 20-yard line. Maye has also been sacked 15 times in the three playoff games.
Some of the issues can be explained by the snowy and windy conditions in Denver during the second half of the AFC championship game, but that still leaves 10 quarters of lackluster offense.
Maye passed for 4,394 yards with 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions during the regular season. Since New England will be facing a Seattle defense that ranked first in points allowed during the regular season (17.2), any chance of an upset on Sunday starts with Maye and the offense’s ability to revert to regular-season form.
“We’ll have to stay balanced,” New England coach Mike Vrabel said. “Our best games we were able to provide some semblance of run game and were able to kind of marry some of the play-action passes. I don’t think in this league you want to turn things into a drop-back passing game. That makes things really difficult.”
Limit Seattle’s running game
Oct 6, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) returns to the locker room following pregame warmups against the New York Giants at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images If the Patriots can be stingy against the run they can turn Seattle into something close to a one-dimensional offense and force quarterback Sam Darnold to beat them. That might be the best recipe for the defense to have success Sunday.
New England ranked fifth in rush defense during the regular season (101.7 ypg), a number that would have likely been even better if defensive tackle Milton Williams hadn’t missed five games with a high-ankle sprain.
Seattle’s offense averaged 123.3 yards rushing per game this season (tied for 10th), but running back Zach Charbonnet tore an ACL in the divisional round against the 49ers and won’t play Sunday. If the Patriots can bottle up Kenneth Walker they can focus more resources on Seattle’s passing game, meaning more pressure on Darnold and giving extra attention to wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who led the league with 1,793 receiving yards.
“We’ll need our best effort (defensively) on Sunday to help us win the football game,” Vrabel said.
Don’t allow big plays on special teams
The Patriots don’t have to win the special teams battle, but they can’t lose it – at least not by a significant margin.
Seattle’s Rashid Shaheed is an electric returner who is a threat to score on both kickoffs and punts. He set the tone in the divisional round by opening the game with a 95-yard kickoff return for a TD.
Shaheed and punter Michael Dickson were both named to the Pro Bowl, and placekicker Jason Myers led the league in scoring (171 points).
“Everybody treats it as if it’s their own primary position,” Seattle’s Brady Russell said. “Special teams isn’t just a side job, it’s (our) main job.”
By most metrics New England has performed well on special teams this season, and the Patriots will likely need another strong effort from that group to prevail on Sunday.
“We’re just trying to build a program, and first year of the program we ended up here,” Vrabel said. “We’re excited about it and we will be ready to go.”
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VP JD Vance, Italian PM meet amid worries over US security presence at Games
