Olympics: 2 South Korean skiers disqualified

Two South Korean skiers were disqualified from the Winter Olympics on Tuesday after banned wax was found on their skis, officials said.

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) said Han Dasom and Lee Eui-jin were excluded from the qualifying round for the women’s cross-country classic sprint after their equipment “tested positive for fluoride.”

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Fluoride, known as fluoride wax, had been banned since the 2023-24 season, according to the BBC.

The FIS said fluorinated wax “can provide a competitive advantage.” This substance would also have health and environmental problems.

A member of the Korean Ski Association defended the athletes in an interview with South Korean media.

“Athlete products are not fluoridated wax,” the official said via The Athletic. “They have tested negative in all previous international competitions, without any prior problems. We are also perplexed.

Lee Eui-jin of the Republic of Korea competes in the women’s 5km cross-country skiing final on the third day of the 2025 Asian Winter Games on February 9, 2025 in Harbin, China. (Emmanuel Wong/Getty Images)

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“We will consult with experts from wax and ski manufacturers to determine whether the problem is with the wax or the skis.”

Neither South Korean skier was among the favorites to win the event. Han and Lee were ranked 157th and 158th respectively at the World Cup.

China’s Jialin Bayani and South Korea’s Han Dasom in action during the women’s 5 km freestyle, February 9, 2025. (Reuters/Hannah McKay)

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The final race in the classic discipline will take place on February 22 – the last day of the Olympic Games.