Winter olympics makes history with first-ever pfas disqualifications as “forever chemical” ban takes effect

The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics has marked a significant milestone in environmental protection by enforcing the first-ever disqualifications for “forever chemicals” in Olympic competition. Three athletes—two South Korean cross-country skiers and one Japanese snowboarder—were stripped of their results after routine testing detected banned PFAS compounds on their equipment.

For decades, elite winter sports athletes have relied on fluorinated waxes containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to gain crucial speed advantages, especially in warm conditions. These “fluoro” waxes excel at repelling water and dirt, providing what one former U.S. racer called a “really ridiculous speed advantage.” However, PFAS—a class of over 15,000 chemicals known as “forever chemicals”—never break down naturally and have been linked to serious health problems including thyroid disease, developmental issues, and cancer.

The ban, implemented by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation in 2023, aims to protect both human health and the environment. Studies have found elevated PFAS levels in ski technicians who regularly handle these waxes, while environmental contamination has been detected near ski venues, including in groundwater supplies. Officials now use infrared spectroscopy to test equipment at multiple points—three or more “red” results indicating PFAS presence leads to immediate disqualification.

While the Korean team initially protested the results, claiming they used fluoride-free products, both Korean athletes were able to compete in subsequent events after equipment cleaning, suggesting the enforcement focuses on immediate safety rather than punitive measures for unintentional violations.