Ragnhild Mowinckel Sölden: GEPA pictures/Patrick Steiner

SOELDEN, Austria (AP) — Norway’s Ragnhild Mowinckel left the finish area of the season-opening women’s World Cup race in tears Saturday after becoming the first skier to be disqualified for banned fluorine in the wax on her skis.

Mowinckel, a two-time Olympic silver medalist from the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, had finished the first run of the giant slalom in sixth place before her skis failed the mandatory post-run test by FIS officials, who disqualified her from the competition.

A rule in effect this season forbids the use of fluorinated products in the pre-race preparation of skis.

After years of debate about the potential harm fluorinated wax can cause to health and the environment, FIS banned the substance from its competitions.

“We must find out what happened. We are not trying to cheat because that’s the worst thing for me,” said Mowinckel in a Norwegian broadcaster TV 2 interview.

Peter Gerdol, the women’s race director of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, said all skis were tested for the banned substance after both runs.

“This was the only ski that showed quite a high value, way more than the minimum threshold, so the jury’s only option was disqualifying the athlete,” Gerdol said.

The decision left Mowinckel’s equipment supplier Head in disbelief.

“The worst case has happened. We have absolutely no explanation,” Head race director Rainer Salzgeber said.

Mowinckel’s ski technician had her skis “with the exact same preparation” tested by FIS officials two days ago, according to Salzgeber, adding that “everything was green. Now it is dark red.”

Ski technicians have used fluorinated wax for decades, not just in Alpine skiing but also in cross-country skiing. It’s believed to make skis faster by creating a layer that repels moisture and dirt. Reducing friction between the ski’s bottom and the snow surface increases speed.