Several sports -- fighting sports -- match competitors by weight. A "bantamweight", for example, will only fight another "bantamweight". This leads to competitors starving themselves in order to compete in a lighter-weight category.
The point is, if you weigh as much as a full-size chicken then you are large enough to thrash the smaller bantams. It's a form of cheating.
The result is, competitors prepare for a competition by starving themselves. And, as a direct result, some would-be competitors starve themselves to death.
The risk of death is treated as less important than the improved chance of winning.
If a sport has weight categories, those categories should be based on actual -- normal -- weight. Weight measured over time, not just the famished weight on the day of a competition. Like drug testing, weight testing should be a permanent feature of being a serious competitor.
For six or more months either side of a competition, competitors are weighed. At random times, with little warning. Whatever weight they are at -- is their competition weight.
Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
... Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved
===
I'm not cynical… just experienced… per Ginger Meggs
===
Dying for you to read my blog, at https: // notdotdeaddotyet .blogspot. com. au/ :-)
No comments:
Post a Comment