Sports and Pseudoscience: A Strange Partnership?

50 IMPACT Sports and Pseudoscience:

A Strange Partnership?

From elite athletes following supposedly harmless alternative therapies like ‘cupping’, to others endorsing truly bizarre conspiracy theories such as the Earth being flat, Alex Ismail asks why influential sports people are more likely to fall prey to pseudoscience.

By Alex Ismail

Illustration by Zainab Shakeel Page design by Ciara Lurshay

For a decade, social media has ensured that elite athletes are more exposed than ever. Not only do they face scrutiny for their athletic performances, but also for their domestic lives, beliefs and actions. Today, athletes are so often the subjects of popular discussion and regularly trend online. In some cases, this occurs when athletes make a positive impact on the world, such as Marcus Rashford. Unfortunately, however, he is the exception, not the rule. Most athletes make the front pages for all the wrong reasons, an example of such being the commitment many athletes have to certain pseudoscientific beliefs and practices.

Put simply, pseudoscience describes statements, beliefs and practices that individuals wrongly believe to be scientific truth. Ranging from astrology to cryptozoology, its many forms attract millions of followers every year, including elite athletes.

Alternative therapies are an especially popular pseudoscience among athletes, despite medical studies proving that most provide no known benefits. They are often presented misleadingly, with data from studies manipulated to emphasise their alleged effectiveness. Some are thousands of years old, but others are more recent. Three commonly used therapies will be the focus here. First is ‘cupping’: an Ancient Greek healing method used by athletes in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and popularised by Michael Phelps in Rio 2016. Cupping involves suctioning small areas of skin for short periods of time, a practice which usually leaves dark, circular bruises. Whilst Phelps’ many medals could appear to lend some credibility to the practice, the studies supporting his claim are laced with bias. Researchers have been unable to find a suitable placebo to test the method rigorously, meaning we have no way to accurately prove its effectiveness.

The second practice up for scrutiny must be acupuncture. In this traditional kind of Chinese medicine, needles are inserted into strategic points on the body to promote healing. Vincenzo Nibali, winner of the Tour de France, and Kobe Bryant, the late NBA legend, both endorsed the practice. Not only that, but the NHS recognises acupuncture as an effective treatment for chronic pain and migraines. Supposedly, acupuncture needles stimulate sensory nerves under the skin and in the muscles, causing the body to produce natural substances like pain-relieving endorphins. Despite the perceived benefits, this therapy still falls under the umbrella term ‘pseudoscience’, as the theories and practices are not grounded in scientific facts.

Kinesiology Tape – also known as ‘K-Tape’ – is a stretchy, flexible tape used by athletes across many sports. It is applied to the joints and muscles to reduce pain and swelling, as well as to increase performance. Now, this is a pseudoscientific therapy I am familiar with, having torn the MCL in my right knee twice. I have found K-Tape incredibly helpful for building stability and

aiding

rehabilitation. Yet, the science does not agree. With mixed results seen in medical studies, the benefits of this practice appear minimal, with some finding there was no difference between K-Tape and placebos, leading to the nickname: ‘Sham-Taping’. So, why do amateur athletes, like myself, and elite athletes, like Phelps and Nibali, continue to use these therapies despite the lack of scientific support? Athletes lust for a competitive edge, always wanting to be better and do better. Therefore, any opportunity to get ahead – scientific or otherwise – is vital and an avenue to be explored. Also, I believe that superstition has its part in these beliefs. If an athlete performs well following an alternative therapy, this only reinforces their faith in these unconventional methods. This would explain why the strongest advocates of these practices are often those who have achieved great success.

Widely regarded as the faith of the socially ostracised, conspiracy theories are generally disregarded or deemed laughable. So, when elite athletes demonstrate their support for such beliefs, it shocks and confuses the wider population. Kyrie Irving, basketball star and apparent conspiracy theorist, claimed in an interview in 2017 that the Earth is flat. The Cleveland Cavaliers player was quizzed by journalists and mocked on social media, but it emerged he was not alone in his belief. Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green and Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown came out in support of Kyrie, as did NFL wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Sammy Watkins. It seemed ‘Flat Earth Fever’ had hit American sport, and ‘The Flat Earth Society’ was provided with an opportunity to spread their views on the world stage.

Another popular conspiracy among sports stars emerged in 2018, with NBA player Steph Curry and former Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas questioning the legitimacy of the moon landings. The internet, again, was swift to provide feedback. One of their critics was NASA’s Scott Kelly, who tweeted Curry asking to talk and eventually spoke to him about the matter on Instagram Live. Curry and Kyrie both later retracted their statements, though this is just as likely due to public backlash as opposed to a change in belief. I have no doubt that many elite athletes hold similar opinions, but they will likely never reveal their beliefs due to a fear of repercussions.

Kyrie Irving, basketball star and apparent conspiracy theorist, claimed in an interview in 2017 that the Earth is flat

Yet, some conspiracy theories are not just pseudoscience, but anti-science. Anti-vaccination campaigns, for example, have caused numerous high-profile figures to peddle their ‘truths’ dangerously. Many athletes have been struck down with this ‘Anti-Vaccination Fever’. Aaron Rodgers is one of many unvaccinated NFL stars, and Kyrie Irving, the former flat-earth advocate, was suspended this year due to his vaccination status.

Outside of America, tennis ace Novak Djokovic was refused entry into Australia due to his refusal of the Covid-19 vaccine. Retired athletes are also throwing their support behind the cause. Recently, John Stockton, of the NBA Hall of Fame, claimed that hundreds of athletes in America had dropped dead due to the vaccine. Yet, what he seemed to ignore was that not a single NBA player had died on the court since the vaccine rollout began. Across the pond, former Southampton striker Matt Le Tissier emerged as a vaccine-sceptic unafraid of spreading misinformation. Le Tissier’s Twitter is an echo chamber of conspiracy theories, going so far as to doubt the horrific war crimes seen in Bucha.

So, is it harmless or harmful? It is evident that many athletes, especially those chasing a competitive edge, believe in pseudoscience. They represent a minority, albeit a loud one. Their views set them apart, guaranteeing the popularity and longevity of superstitions, alternative therapies and conspiracy theories. While harmful beliefs face backlash, those which are harmless – such as K-Tape – only make them human. The relationship between pseudoscience and athletes will always spark discussion and, whilst some beliefs carry risks, I don’t believe they should always be a cause for concern.