Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore, Staff Reporter

Sex cures all. At least that's what many say. But, in the world of sports, indulging in this medicine is still a no-no when competing.

Many managers and coaches have for decades urged players to refrain from making love during competitions because it is thought to interfere with their performance. Eastern philosophy states that a man somehow loses his vital spirit, his life energy, his vital force, every time he ejaculates. The ancient Chinese also believed a similar philosophy and found a way to combat this by reaching orgasm without actually ejaculating.

Dr. Lawson Douglas, urologist, can identify with this belief because when you have sex and ejaculate, you become sleepy. However, he said, "It depends on the individual, because for some, sex before a game actually relaxes them," he said.

He advises that sex a day or 12 hours before a game, is Ok but immediately before going into the ring or on the field, it can drain the athlete's energy.

Advocated chastity

Football coaches, athletes, even the great Muhammad Ali, all have advocated chastity the night before a big event. However, Dr. Douglas said that there is noscientific research that proves that sex before a game affects the player.

According to an article in Time Online, researchers have found little to support the idea that sex is energy-sapping. In fact, up to 50 calories on average is used up in sex and about 200 calories for 60 minutes of effort. This is about the same as that used up in pushing a powered lawnmower, or climbing two flights of stairs, and is unlikely to have an impact on performance the following day.

It is also stated in the article that cardiologists at the University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland tested 15 top-level male athletes, including footballers on days with and without sex. The results show that sexual activity had no detrimental effect on the maximum exercise levels achieved, but the athletes were more stressed on tests that took place within two hours of sex.

Pete Taylor,footballer, said his trainer once told him that if he is going to have sex, do it after the adrenaline is still running. "But the night before is deadly, as it will drain your energy." Taylor notes that he tried this experiment once, one day before training and it is true. However, he said after that training session he was out of it.

Affects game

Jerome Barnes, another footballer, agrees that having sex the night before a game affects his performance. "It makes me feel weak, I don't have any endurance and my stamina level drops."

Monica Thompson, a netball player on the other hand, said for her, having sex before a game, does affect her sometimes. And when it does, she is exhausted, especially if she has an orgasm. "My legs become like spaghetti. But if I don't have an orgasm it boosts my energy."

Despite the debate, another athlete seeking the truth, Mary Johnson, does not trod that route at all. She just focuses on her game because she does not need the distraction.

Names changed

Additional source: timeonline.com.