LAUSR

All professional athletes require effective nutrition, hydration and sleep strategies to optimise physical and mental health during training and competition. This is an annual challenge for Muslim athletes during the holy month of Ramadan, when they abstain from ingestion of food and liquids during daylight hours in an act of spiritual devotion. During Ramadan, the length of each day’s fast depends on geographical location (latitude) and season: in the north of the UK, for example, daylight lasts less than 6 hours in winter but almost 19 hours in midsummer. Athletes who fast usually report reduced total sleep time to accommodate prefast/postfast meals (suhoor and iftar), social activities and nighttime prayers. 2 Medical teams can promote inclusivity by implementing safety criteria to optimise performance and support athletes who train and compete during Ramadan.