Ski jumper banned from Winter Olympics over shoes being too big

An Austrian ski jumper was banned from the Winter Olympics final because his shoes were too big.

Yes, you read that right - Daniel Tschofenig, 23, was due to compete for a medal and a spot on the podium in Saturday's (14 February) men's large hill ski jumping final after qualifying comfortably.

However, despite being one of the favourites to win, his Milano Cortina dreams were dashed when he was disqualified as his footwear was discovered to be four millimeters too big.

Tschofenig's equipment was checked following his first jump, where he was believed to have qualified for the final after scoring an impressive 137.7.

As the news broke, TNT Sports commentator Ian Findlay said: "Hang on folks, there are some changes here. We're just getting news that there has been a disqualification for Daniel Tschofenig."

He added: "The big news just after the first round, Tschofenig disqualified due to boot size, four millimeters over.

"He is out of the competition, the first disqualification we've had at these Olympic Games in ski jumping, and it meant Hector Kapustik gets in."

Daniel Tschofenig, 23, was prevented from competing in the men's large hill individual event for wearing oversized boots (NurPhoto/Getty Images)

As per MailOnline, former Slovenian ski jumper Jernej Damjan chimed in with: "It's big news. Daniel Tschofenig out and Hektor Kapustik in, which is good for Slovakia. Tschofenig finally finding something extra and when he does, he gets kicked out.

"There was a huge improvement compared to training, and he found something even more in this first round. He was in eighth place before this disqualification, which was not a bad position to be in, he still had a chance to attack."

Speaking out following his disqualification, according to BBC Sport, Tschofenig told press: "I used new shoes in training which, by the way, I wasn't very happy with, but I kept them."

He admitted, "Unfortunately, I was naive and didn't measure it. Extremely stupid of me, there was just so much stress going on. But rules are rules."

The Austrian sports star won the World Cup last year, which meant he was one of the favourites to win gold this year, but, after being kicked out of the competition, Slovenia's Domen Prevc took home the gold medal after scoring 301.8 overall, while Japan's Ren Nikaido and Poland's Kacper Tomasiak bagged silver and bronze.

And it's not the first time male ski jumpers have come under scrutiny during this year's Winter Olympics, as the disqualification comes just after the whole 'penis enlarging scandal'.

The Olympian's shoes were four millimetres too big (JAVIER SORIANO/Getty Images)

For those who missed it, last month, German outlet Bild claimed that some jumpers were using hyaluronic acid injections, which can last up to 18 months, before their suit measurements.

The substance, which isn't completely banned, can actually increase penis circumference by one or two centimetres, and that extra size could widen the surface area of a jumpsuit in competition.

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) says a larger suit can improve lift mid-flight, so this could give someone an athletic edge over other competitors.

However, FIS communications director Bruno Sassi rejected the claims outright.

He told BBC Sport: "There has never been any indication, let alone evidence, that any competitor has ever made use of a hyaluronic acid injection to attempt to gain a competitive advantage."

Meanwhile, World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) director general Olivier Niggli said in a press conference: "I am not aware of the details of ski jumping, and how that could improve performance.

"If anything was to come to the surface, we would look at it and see if it is doping-related. We don't address other [non-doping] means of enhancing performance."