Since the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced players would be allowed to take CBD at the 2018 World Cup, many players have taken a shining to it. While cannabis will remain illegal, CBD use has completely changed the game for some athletes who are pushed to their limits and need to stay on top of their game.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a substance derived from the hemp plant. It doesn’t make the user feel high (think Diego Maradona’s ban during the 1994 World Cup), but has what seems to be a never-ending list of benefits.
Why is CBD beneficial for soccer players?
The truth is that being a soccer player is intense, with some European and South American players taking part in over 50 games every season.
That’s tiring enough as it is, but when these same players get called up to play for their country in the World Cup, they usually have just a couple of weeks to recover before play begins again.
Players also have to take part in warm-up games before taking part in up to seven games in a month.
With this, of course, comes a great deal of fatigue and sometimes even injury which can severely affect a team’s performance, particularly in big-league matches. CBD is a great alternative for players who like to be at their best while avoiding performance-enhancing cocktails.
According to Daily CBD Mag, cannabidiol has a whole range of anti-inflammatory properties which are great for relieving soccer players of pain and preventing further injury.
This powerful natural substance also helps to reduce anxiety, helping players to focus more on the game at hand and less on their worries for it.
Why is it allowed?
Per Healthcare Weekly, THC is the most active ingredient in marijuana and can account for up to 40% of the cannabinoid content.
This is the ingredient responsible for changing the brain’s chemistry to produce psychoactive effects, which is why it remains illegal for any CBD product to contain over 0.3% of it.
On the other hand, CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid and does not have any mind-altering effects. While it does have therapeutic properties, it doesn’t make the user feel high.
Megan Rapinoe
Megan Rapinoe, an Olympic gold medalist, two-time Women’s World Cup champion and Women’s World Player of the Year, is a feminist icon and idol to many.
She’s also a huge activist for LGBTQAI+ rights which has gained her support across the globe. Because of all this, Rapinoe is no stranger to controversy.
Recently, she took another bold step and is now sponsored by Mendi, a company that creates CBD sports recovery products for athletes.
Speaking to Forbes, Megan said: “I wanted a healthier, more natural option for pain management, sleep aid, relaxation while flying, and general recovery.
“Mendi’s mission really stuck with me. The desire to serve the athletes and be our trusted brand, but also their commitment to a healthier lifestyle, and changing the status quo around pain management and sports.”
A Mendi spokesperson added: “It is no secret that many people have spent years in jail for cannabis, of those people a disproportionate percentage are people of color. We will use this company and our platform to raise awareness and fight for the legalization of CBD and Cannabis everywhere.”
While the CBD industry is now creeping into the world of soccer more and more, other sporting athletes have been familiar with the compound for quite some time.
As CBD Kyro points out, CBD is considered to be safe to consume for most people due to its significant benefits and lack of serious side effects, which is why so many sportsmen and women love it.
KC Deane
Dual sport athlete KC Deane is one of the top mountain bike athletes in the country. He admits that he regularly uses CBD for pain management and improving the recovery process from injuries.
Chris Camozzie
Mixed martial artist Chris Camozzie uses CBD to deal with inflammation and pain linked with intense fights during his time as a UFC athlete. Since having a severe knee injury a few years back, Chris admits that CBD allows him to continue in his chosen career much more comfortably.
Derrick Morgan
The Titan’s Derrick Morgan become the second active NFL player on the CBD campaign way back in 2016. Speaking to Denver Post at the time, he said: “After researching, finding out more and more about it, I realized this is something guys should know about,” Morgan said. “You don’t have to take it, but you should at least know about it if it’s going to help you protect your brain and protect your body.” Since then, he has become a huge advocate for its capabilities.
Nate Diaz
In 2016, professional MMA fighter Nate Diaz took the sporting world by surprise when he consumed CBD oil during his post-fight interview on live TV after losing to Connor McGregor. He revealed that CBD helps him with recovery, relieves pain, and reduced inflammation. In the famous interview, Diaz added: “It’ll make your life a better place.”
Former players turned CBD advocates
Of course, among the long list of current players who use CBD to enhance their performance, there’s an even longer list of former pros who use the compound to help with sporting injuries. Men’s Health revealed a list of these athletes back in March, which included retired NHL enforcer Ryan VandenBussche and retired NHL winger Riley Cote.
Retired NFL backliner David Ahrens also made the list, who was one of the 136 former Indianapolis Colts players named in a 2011 concussion lawsuit against the NFL. After using opioids to manage his chronic pain for years, he tried CBD. He said: “I don’t need pain meds like I used to.
“Every day on TV there are commercials advertising the next best drug, and the second half of the commercial is all about possible side effects. Well, I have never heard of a side effect from CBD.”
The bottom line
It’s clear to see just how much CBD could change the sporting world for the better. Not only does it give players the chance to naturally relieve pain caused by their profession and increase recovery, but it also helps to reduce pre-game anxiety.
It’s no wonder so many of our favorite sporting heroes support it, and we’re likely to see the substance become much more mainstream in the near future.
Author bio: Marina Turea works as content manager at Digital Authority Partners. In her free time, she loves to blog about health and wellness topics.