Comment on: “It is Time to Ban Rapid Weight Loss from Combat Sports”

Excerpt

I read with great interest the article by Artioli et al. [1], “It is Time to Ban Rapid Weight Loss from Combat Sports”. The argument seems to be based on the authors’ belief that all combat sports violate the three criteria laid out by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). These criteria are “(1) enhances performance; (2) endangers an athlete’s health; (3) violates the spirit of sport” [1]. If a substance or method meets two or more of these criteria, WADA may consider banning it. Unfortunately, it would appear that the authors have chosen to ignore most of the research in the area, instead, cherry-picking the parts that tell the story that they wish to tell. …