Journal of Sports Medicine & Doping Studies

The present study investigated the circadian rhythm variations of heart rate and blood pressure due to 1 (60 minutes) and 2 split exercise sessions (2 × 30 minutes) a day. Fourteen healthy students from the University of Tabriz volunteered to participate in current study. Two groups of subjects in a crossover design were randomly allocated as group I (one session per day, twice a day) and vice versa for group II. Having completed the test (treadmill running with an intensity of 70 per cent of Maximum Heart rate), heart rate and blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic) were measured every two hours for 24 hours. Repeated measure (ANOVA) was used for analysis. Each of variables showed normal circadian rhythm. Compared to two split exercise sessions a day, one session a day demonstrated that the level of heart rate circadian rhythm has been set at a rate of five percent below. Circadian rhythm of systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the two split sessions compared with one session a day tended to be set at a lower level and higher level respectively. One aerobic exercise session compared to two split sessions a day with the same total time of exercise a day may decrease systolic blood pressure and heart rate within 24 hours following aerobic treadmill running exercise. Split exercise session could be an appropriate approach for increasing more calories and lowering blood pressure among health seekers while it may delay recovery for the next day training or competition for professional athletes.

The metabolic demands among U-19 basketball players were studied; however, physical and physiological demands of U-19 basketball refereeing during competition are rather scant. The aim of this study was to analyze the energy expenditure (EE) and the exercise intensity of basketball refereeing during official game and determined as Metabolic Equivalent (METs). Sixteen elite level basketball referees were studied during U-19 basketball games (n=8) for time motion analyses (TMA). The EE data were calculated, using specific equations, from the time spent by the referee in each exercise-intensity zone. During game, referees spent a mean EE of 504.4 ± 77.7 kcal. A significant difference was observed between 113.5 ± 18.2 kcal in the 1st quarter (Q1) and 137 ± 27.5 kcal in the Q4 (p=0.007). The averaged EE (~5 kcal.kg-1.h-1) corresponded to “moderate energy intensity” (~5 METs) with a large contribution of the aerobic energy pathway. In all, during 88% of game the intensity was equal or lower than 3.8 METs and in 12% it was higher than 9.8 METs which were considered as low to high-intensity thresholds, respectively. The energetic profile studied in this research confirms that basketball refereeing may be regarded as a clearly intermittent-activity mode with a predominantly aerobic metabolism solicitation. Referees officiating in U-19 basketball games should carry out a physical conditioning regime that prepares them for such an effort.

Objective: To reveal the understanding among judo coaches from different countries on anti-doping, and their understanding of how this is intrinsically valuable to sport.

Design: Survey study. Participants: 74 British coaches (UK coaches) and 66 Japanese coaches (JPN coaches) certified by the British Judo Association or the All Japan Judo Federation, as appropriate.

Results: Most of both countries' coaches knew National Anti-Doping Organization and World Anti-Doping Agency. Almost of JPN coaches had attended an anti-doping workshop, however many of UK coaches had never attended such a workshop. There are aimed to compare the two countries’ views of doping along the social, educational, ethical, and health-related aspects. The results from Question 7.1 (I agree with the act of doping), Question 7.6 (Doping enables judoka to improve their performance), and Question 7.9 (Prohibited substances are possibly included in certain legal medicines and food supplements) were significantly different between the UK coaches and JPN coaches groups.

Conclusions: Judo coaches around the world should be educated on anti-doping regimes.