For decades, the legend of Muhammad Ali's strict pre-fight ritual of abstaining from sex for six weeks has loomed large in the sporting world, setting a standard many athletes felt compelled to follow. However, new scientific evidence now suggests the heavyweight champion's famous discipline may have been unnecessary, and potentially even counterproductive.
The Science of Sex and Sport: A Rigorous Test
A team of researchers from the University of Valladolid in Spain set out to definitively test the long-held belief that sexual activity impairs athletic prowess. They recruited 21 healthy, physically fit men for a controlled experiment. Each participant underwent an intense cycling test on two separate occasions. The first test followed a week of sexual abstinence, while the second was conducted just 30 minutes after the men had been amorous.
The results, published in the peer-reviewed journal Physiology & Behavior, were clear and surprising. Contrary to the old adage, the men were actually able to cycle for a slightly longer duration after recent sexual activity compared to after a period of abstinence.
Ending a Long-Standing Sporting Myth
The researchers concluded that pre-exercise sexual activity does not harm athletic capacity in trained men. In their report, they stated this finding directly challenges "the long-standing myth of mandatory abstinence before competition."
Dr Athalie Redwood-Brown, a senior lecturer in performance analysis of sport at Nottingham Trent University, who was not involved in the Spanish study, explained the historical context. "For a long time, athletes thought that if they had sex, they would have less strength, speed, or aggression left for their sport," she said.
The Physiological Benefits of Intimacy
Dr Redwood-Brown elaborated on why the new findings make physiological sense. "The new research shows that this worry is mostly based on old beliefs, not how the body really works," she noted.
She pointed to the body's chemical response to intimacy. "After sex, the body releases chemicals that help people feel calm, happy, and relaxed. That can help athletes concentrate better, being less nervous can help muscles move more smoothly, and feeling relaxed can make exercise feel a bit easier."
This research shifts the narrative from one of depletion to one of potential optimisation. While the study focused on a specific group of fit men, it provides robust evidence that the blanket prohibition on sex before competition, exemplified by icons like Muhammad Ali, lacks a scientific foundation. The focus for modern athletes may now turn to individual preparation and the positive psychological effects of intimacy, rather than adhering to an outdated rule.
