Until now, the association between head injuries and neurodegenerative disease, specifically chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), has predominantly been made with boxers. Now, the first case has been reported showing an association between exposure to head injuries in rugby union players and an increased risk in neurodegenerative disease.
For the first time, researchers are looking at the incredibly grueling competition called the Ultraman, and what it does to your body. The Ultraman is a three-day competition designed to test an athlete's physical and mental endurance. The first day is a 6.2-mile open swim, followed by a 90-mile bike ride. The second day is a 172-mile bike ride. And the third day is a double marathon -- a 52.4-mile run.
High-schoolers involved in competitive sports are at an elevated risk of addictive gambling, a new study concludes. According to the research, the participation of male high-school students in competitive sports is associated with problem gambling and gambling frequency, and female students who participate in competitive sports are at a higher risk of gambling frequency.
Spectator stands are the most likely sporting environment for homophobia to occur, a study concludes: 85 percent fear for the safety of gay people. Three out of four people have witnessed or experienced homophobia in sport, including many heterosexual men. UK gay youth are twice as likely to be 'out of the closet' yet they experience more abuse.
Doping is damaging the image of sport without benefiting athletes' results, according to new research. Researchers collated sporting records (including Olympic and world records) of male and female athletes across 26 sports, between 1886 and 2012. Comparisons were made between pre-1932 records (when steroids became available) and post, and it was found that the times, distances and other results did not improve as expected in the doping era.