Science Kicks in at the FIFA World Cup, with the World’s First In Vivo ‘Sportomics’ Experiment

Bath, UK (June, 12th, 2014) – SelectScience, an independent, expert-led scientific review resource for the worldwide scientific community, has announced it is conducting the world’s first ever in vivo ‘Sportomics’ football experiment. The study, conducted in partnership with Rio de Janeiro’s Fluminense football team, will run throughout June and July 2014.

The aim of this experiment is to investigate how the Sportomics approach of applying biochemistry in the field, and post-match mass spec analysis, can identify markers of athlete health in order to improve performance in real-time, in comparison to more traditional sports field techniques.

The science of Sportomics is the study of how exercise affects the metabolism, and this experiment will form part of a ‘Science behind the World Cup’ special feature, exclusive to SelectScience.

The research will explore the science behind player performance at the FIFA World Cup, looking at real-time athlete analysis, bringing the lab to the field. Results will be used to drive suitable interventions for improved performance and provide comment around the use of the latest sports science technology.

Over a 24-hour period prior to the football match, scientists and experts will provide testing and analysis around the health of individual players from two rival teams. Players from one team will receive an intervention treatment based on biochemical analysis, to see whether this will lead to improved performance and ultimately victory in the match.

During the tournament, FIFA will be implementing a programme of laboratory testing that will see players will undergo the most stringent drug testing the sport has ever seen.

Kerry Parker, Editor-in-Chief, SelectScience, commented: “The ‘Science behind the World Cup’ special feature is something we are really excited about. We have brought together world-class specialists who are looking at subjects from cardiac monitoring, heart-rate monitoring and sleep monitoring, to displacement monitoring and novel neuroscience. Our in vivo experiment allows scientists to evaluate whether scientific techniques can be used in real-time to predict and help outcomes in sports, such as football.”

CEO, Publisher and Co-Founder of SelectScience, Arif Butt, explains: “The FIFA World Cup is the largest sporting event in the world. It is viewed by more people than the Olympics! While this is a fantastic celebration of sport, it is also a chance to celebrate the role science plays in such a global event.”

The Sportomics matches will be available to anyone who wants to learn more about football and science. To watch these videos or to learn more about SelectScience, please visit www.selectscience.net/worldcup