FIFA has prepared a report in which the activity of players participating in the World Cup in 2002-2018 was thoroughly analyzed. It shows that a large part of footballers, in order to even go on the pitch, must use painkillers. There is no doubt that also during the tournament in Qatar, players help each other in this way.
FIFA knows about the problem of doping, but does nothing about it. Footballers swallow painkillers like candy
This is a worrying practice, because the drug in question is very close to prohibited substances, commonly referred to as doping. As reported by ARD, but also by the media from Norway and Sweden, it is about Tramadol. According to a FIFA report, footballers are ingesting “alarming amounts” of the drug. It is a morphine-like drug. Extremely strong, pain-relieving.
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– It is quite a dangerous and addictive opioid. Not suitable for sports. It removes the feeling of tiredness in the body – Jenny Schulze from Antidoping Sweden told “Expressen”. – It is a doping preparation – she summed up her statement.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has been looking at Tramadol for a long time and it was decided that from 2024 it would be banned. In order for a drug to be included in the list of banned substances, it must meet three criteria: threaten health, improve the body’s performance and act in a way that distorts the spirit of sports competition. The conducted research confirms that Tramadol meets these three conditions.
In some countries, such as Sweden, this drug is prohibited. In others, such as in England, there is a discussion about painkillers and their long-term effects. Chris Kirkland, a memorable rival of Jerzy Dudek from his days at Liverpool, recently confessed that he was suicidal by using similar drugs.
Despite this, Tramadol is not banned during the World Cup in Qatar. – I’m not the only one taking painkillers. There is no one here who plays without pain,” Korean footballer Kim Jin-Su told ARD. “Expressen”, on the other hand, refers to the statement of Lautaro Martinez’s agent, who was to state that his client played all the matches of the World Cup with the help of painkillers.
The situation is therefore very worrying, although it is understandable for footballers who, in a grueling tournament, are looking for ways to relieve pain. New competitions are being created all the time, and the number of matches is growing year by year. The bodies of athletes are overloaded and have their limitations. The goal of FIFA and UEFA should be to adjust the calendar to the players’ abilities so that they do not have to use drugs to go out on the pitch.
Source: Sport
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
