Winter Olympics controversy as FIVE female skiers disqualified for 'loose suits'

Five female ski jumpers were disqualified from their skiing event after officials deemed their suits to be too loose at the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Norway's Silje Opseth and Anna Odine Stroem, Japan's Sara Takanashi, Austria's Daniela Iraschko-Stolz and Germany's Katharina Althaus were all removed from the mixed team ski jumping event on Monday.

The International Ski Federation (FIS) believed the size of their outfits gave the athletes an unfair advantage over their competition.

“A test of the suits had been offered by the FIS competition management to all teams before the competitions,” the FIS told PEOPLE . “Only a few teams took this opportunity.

Norway's Silje Ospeth was one of five athletes to be disqualified from the mixed team ski jumping event in Beijing (REUTERS)

“The used suits that led to the disqualifications were too big and offered an aerodynamic advantage to the athlete.

“There was no official protest by a team against any of the disqualifications.”

Of the five athletes who were disqualified for their suits, the FIS claimed the suits used were produced exclusively for the Olympics - and therefore were not previously tested.

The disqualifications resulted in disappointed athletes, angered coaches and frustrated fans.

“We were looking forward to the second competition at the Olympics,” said Germany’s Althaus to Reuters. “FIS destroyed that with this action — they destroyed women's ski jumping.”

Katharina Althaus of Germany was furious with her disqualification (REUTERS)

Speaking to SID, she added: “I have been checked so many times in 11 years of ski jumping, and I have never been disqualified once. I know my suit was compliant.”

Fellow disqualified athlete Opseth was also left frustrated by the decision, telling Fox News : “I think they checked it in a new way today compared to what they had done previously.

“I think it's very strange that they would suddenly change how they do it in the middle of a tournament. I don't know what to say. I'm really just shaken. I'm sorry that I was disqualified today.”

The final of the mixed team ski jumping event went ahead following the controversy, with Slovenia seizing the gold medal. The Russian Olympic Committee took silver while Canada claimed bronze to round out the podium.