It follows a recommendation from the FIS Fluorinated Wax Ban Working Group do so, meaning the ban is scheduled to come into force on July 1 2021.

Further laboratory and field testing will be conducted in the upcoming season to finalise testing protocols.

The FIS Fluorinated Wax Ban Working Group said that delaying the bam would make it easier to implement at all levels of competition and allow further time to secure replacement products.

In November 2019, the FIS Council decided that the use of fluorinated ski wax, which has been proven to harm the environment and have negative health impacts, would be banned for all FIS disciplines from the 2020-2021 season.

European Union regulations which came into effect in July 2020 prohibit the use of certain fluorinated compounds in the manufacturing process.

The FIS insists it "strongly supports the ban on fluorinated waxes".

It has developed a testing device and had implemented testing and sanctioning protocols across all disciplines in time for the upcoming season.

However, the trialing of a hand-held testing device found measurement errors, leading to further testing and design adjustments to ensure consistency in results.

It is claimed the the delay in implementing the ban will allow extra time to improve the accuracy of this device. 

Athletes could be disqualified if fluorine is detected in their wax once the ban comes into force.