Karo Parisyan, recently banned from the UFC, tested positive for large amounts of painkillers in a time period in which he would be fighting competitively. Anderson Silva admitted to taking painkillers prior to a landslide victory over Yushin Okami in UFC 134. What are the benefits of taking painkillers? Fighters can firstly take far more damage and pain than usual. Secondly, fighters can throw with more reckless abandon, having to worry less about leg checks and elbows.
This phenomena is not restricted to professional MMA. It pops up in boxing, kickboxing, and other forms of combat sports. Shockingly enough, this abuse pops up among youth in Karate and Taekwondo tournaments. At a young age, I was personally offered the standard 3-4 Advils, an unhealthy amount for a child, before fights at local Taekwondo tournaments. While I never took them, I witnessed other children smashing knees and elbows without so much as batting an eye while hopped up on painkillers. While not widespread, the use of painkillers among child athletes is common enough that it should be a cause for worry. This mixture of adrenaline and drugs can lead to some "mystery" and serious injuries that are only realized after the competition is over.
4 comments:
There is a big difference between advil and anti inflammatory pills than real pain killers like vicodin etc...advil would not increase the amount of damage or pain threshold of anyone I fought combat sports my whole life and to think so is ludacris. Prescribed narcotics or painkillers would however have a significant effect upon the user in any sport so there should be testing when it comes to competitions at higher levels.
Advil pills block pain receptors. A guy at my club likes to pop them before fights. idk about his long term health effects from this but he does it and it works
"There is a big difference between advil and anti inflammatory pills than real pain killers like vicodin etc...advil would not increase the amount of damage or pain threshold of anyone I fought combat sports my whole life and to think so is ludacris"
It honestly depends on how many you take. One pill surely won't do much for a fully grown man. However, 2-3 could certainly affect a child, and 3-4 can affect an adult, as well. I think the article is talking more about people taking more than they should.
Taking pills for sparring has very little purpose. However, the article is correct - people do this. It's dumb, but they do. Taking advils or whatever before a fight will just increase your chances of injury and especially bruising.
Seen it plenty of times, though.
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