More than 3000 Muslim athletes competed at the London Olympics in the midst of Ramadan, the Holy Month in which followers fast from sunrise to sunset.
Although it was impossible to know how many were fasting, such athletes are not always disadvantaged.
Almost one quarter of the world’s population are identified as followers of Islam. Fasting is one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith and during Ramadan, the ninth-month of the Muslim calendar, all observant followers fast during daylight hours.
This year the Holy Month of Ramadan ran through the Olympic Games, the first since 1980.
Sport Science research shows that optimal hydration and pre-event nutrition give athletes a significant advantage in competition.
The impact
Therefore, the obvious question is, ‘What impact will Ramadan have on an athlete’s physical performance?’
Researchers have never tested Ramadan-observing athletes during the highest-level of competitions in the world such the Olympics and may never.
I have been involved in a number of research projects looking at the effect fasting has on factors such as dehydration, body composition and inflammation.
Laboratory-based studies suggest that athletes cope remarkably well and in power-based sports, there seems to be little disadvantage.
In tests of pure strength, Ramadan also has little effect, provided training is kept up during the fasting month.
My research found participants adapt to the daily food restriction by increasing their ability to burn fat.
The daily fast, where they must ‘tap’ into their body fat reserves each day, enables them to burn fat better during exercise.
Special dispensation
Since performance in endurance sports is heavily weighted in favour of those who have the best fat-burning capacity, one wonders if indeed Muslim athletes might perform better in these events, at least if the event is in the latter weeks of Ramadan.
In an event such as the marathon, which is traditionally held early in the day and during food and fluid intake is generally minimal anyway, the ‘Ramadan- observing athlete’ will experience no disadvantage, and might even benefit from the strict fasting regime.
However, in events that last many hours and are held in the warmer afternoon, such as the Cycle Road Race athletes who observe fasting could be at a disadvantage.
These remain speculations until good scientific research is undertaken.
What actually happens during competition at the highest level is difficult to test because any measurement can potentially affect performance.
However, not all Muslim athletes will adhere to Ramadan during the Olympics.
Muslim law allows dispensation for important and/or health reasons.
According to The Independent, countries including Algeria, Egypt, Malaysia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have allowed athletes to put off fasting, but ultimately it will be the athlete’s individual choice.
Steve Stannard is Associate Professor and Head of School of Sport and Exercise at Massey University.
