For decades, athletes have been warned against having sex before competition, fearing it could sap their strength and hinder performance.
The idea has been so deeply ingrained that even today, World Cup soccer teams and Olympic trainers impose strict rules prohibiting intimate encounters before game day.
But is there any scientific basis for this belief?
A groundbreaking study from the University of Florence in Italy has put this long-standing superstition to the test—and the results may surprise you.
After analyzing over 500 published papers on the relationship between sexual activity and athletic performance, researchers found no substantial evidence that abstinence enhances an athlete’s abilities.
In fact, the data suggests quite the opposite.
A Tradition Rooted in Ancient Misconceptions
The idea that sex weakens the body dates back to ancient times.
Greek physician Aretaeus of Cappadocia, writing in the 1st century AD, claimed that a man’s strength could be preserved by retaining semen.
Even Plato supposedly advised Olympians to abstain before competition.
These beliefs trickled down through history, influencing sports culture and training regimens across generations.
Fast forward to modern times, and the same thinking persists.
Rocky Balboa’s fictional trainer famously warned, “Women weaken legs,” reinforcing the idea that athletes must avoid sex to maintain peak performance.
Many coaches still enforce abstinence policies, barring players’ partners from staying with them during tournaments.
But despite these widespread beliefs, the science tells a different story.
What the Data Actually Shows
To determine whether sex impacts athletic performance, lead researcher Laura Stefani and her team combed through over 500 scientific studies.
After filtering out irrelevant research, they were left with just nine studies—an alarmingly small number given how widespread the belief in abstinence has been.
What they found was striking: none of the studies provided solid evidence that sex negatively impacts performance.
In fact, several suggested that sex might even be beneficial.
According to the review, sex can have a relaxing effect on athletes, reducing stress and anxiety before competition.
This could be particularly useful for endurance sports like marathon running or mentally demanding activities like archery or shooting.
One crucial factor, however, was sleep.
Researchers noted that as long as athletes got enough rest, sex had no measurable downside.
On the contrary, athletes who engaged in sex the night before a competition sometimes showed improved focus and confidence.
The Role of Psychology
This brings us to an important point: if there is no solid scientific basis for abstinence before competition, why does the myth persist?
One answer lies in psychology.
Some athletes believe in abstinence simply because they’ve been told for years that it helps.
This belief can create a placebo effect, where an athlete who abstains feels more disciplined and mentally prepared, even if there’s no actual physiological benefit.
Another reason could be cultural conditioning.
Since the idea has been passed down for centuries, many coaches and trainers reinforce it without questioning its validity.
Even anecdotal experiences from a handful of athletes—who may have performed poorly after sex—have helped perpetuate the superstition.
What This Means for Athletes Today
With scientific evidence refuting the idea that sex negatively affects performance, athletes may need to rethink their pre-game rituals.
While discipline and focus are crucial, unnecessary restrictions on personal habits could be more harmful than beneficial.
Stefani’s research emphasizes that individual differences matter.
If an athlete finds that abstaining helps them psychologically, they can continue doing so.
But if another athlete feels more relaxed and confident after intimacy, there is no reason to avoid it—provided they prioritize sleep and avoid unhealthy habits like excessive alcohol or drug use.
Time to Retire an Outdated Belief
The idea that athletes should abstain before competition is a relic of ancient thinking rather than a proven performance-enhancing strategy.
The research shows that there is no strong scientific link between sex and decreased athletic ability.
Instead, individual preference, mental state, and proper rest play far more significant roles in achieving peak performance.
So, should athletes have sex before a big game? The answer is simple: if they want to, why not?
