A New Kind Of Olympic Rule: How Environmental Safety Just Got Athletes Disqualified

The Winter Olympics are usually about speed, strength and split-second finishes. But this time, the spotlight is on something a lot less visible: harmful chemicals.

That's after three Olympians were disqualified from the Milan-Cortina 2026 Games. This wasn't for cheating, but for the use of environmentally un-friendly wax on their skis and snowboards.

Japanese snowboarder Shiba Masaki and South Korean cross-country skiers Han Dasom and Lee Eui-jin were each kept from competing in their events after routine equipment testing found banned compounds known as PFAS, sometimes called “forever chemicals,” on their gear.

Some Back Story

For decades, elite skiers and snowboarders have relied on special waxes to make their gear glide faster. These waxes repel water and dirt incredibly well, which can sometimes mean the difference between gold and going home empty-handed.

But those high-performance waxes contain PFAS (short for per and polyfluoroalkyl substances). This isn’t just one chemical. It’s a huge family of about 15,000 human-made compounds used in everything from nonstick pans to waterproof jackets to food packaging.

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They’re called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down naturally. Once they’re in the environment, in soil, water and even our bodies, they stick around forever.

Why the Ban?

Scientists have linked PFAS exposure to a range of health problems, including certain cancers and other illnesses. They’ve also been detected in soil and water near winter sports venues, including in local wells. That means what starts as a performance boost on a ski slope can end up in surrounding ecosystems and potentially in drinking water.

The prohibition officially took effect in 2023 and now applies to all events it governs, including Nordic skiing, alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, ski jumping and snowboarding. The recent disqualifications mark some of the first high-profile enforcements of that rule on the world stage.

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The Takeaway

What makes this story feel so big is that PFAS aren’t just an Olympic problem. They’re everywhere.

They’ve been found in rainwater, rivers, oceans and even in human blood samples across the globe.

The Olympic ban is part of a much larger shift that recognizes how everyday chemicals, once considered harmless or even essential for performance, can have lasting consequences.

On snowy mountain slopes that often symbolize purity and pristine wilderness, the presence of “forever chemicals” feels especially toxic.

We all know the Olympics are about pushing human limits, but this moment is a reminder that there are environmental limits, too.

weather.com lead editor Jenn Jordan explores how weather and climate weave through our daily lives, shape our routines and leave lasting impacts on our communities.