While this story sounds like a joke, there is a real reason competitors would do this, and it all comes down to winning.

Adding extra chest padding is a strategy known among triathletes and cyclists as chest fairing. By changing the shape of your chest, it alters how air flows around the body. In cycling, less air resistance means you go faster, so even a small change can help.

Earlier this year, some Olympic ski jumpers were accused of using injections to make their penis look bigger before getting measured for their suits. Bigger measurements meant they could wear bigger suits, which create more lift in the air. The story drew enough attention for anti-doping officials to investigate.

The details may sound bizarre, but the reason behind them is not. As someone who studies human body size, shape and composition, I find these stories fascinating. They remind us that sport depends on body shape as much as fitness and hard work.

Certain body shapes make certain movements easier. Rowers are often tall with long arms and legs. Gymnasts are small and compact. Sprinters are strong and muscular, while long-distance runners tend to be lean.

However, sport keeps getting more competitive. Most professional competitors have access to the right training, good coaching, proper nutrition and recovery. So athletes increasingly have to chase marginal gains, tiny advantages that mean little alone but add up when combined.