Written by Ramadan is a sacred month for Muslims worldwide, marked by fasting- abstaining from food or water, from dawn until sunset. For professional athletes, this means balancing their religious beliefs and practices while maintaining peak physical fitness through specialized diets to continue participating in their respective sports.
In recent years, professional sports have shifted to embrace Ramadan, with sports organizations like the Premier League introducing special game stops to allow fasting players to break their fasts (Hafez, 2025). While meaningful steps have been made across sports, it is important to acknowledge the importance of further advancements to continue to support Muslim athletes who observe the month of Ramadan.
Challenges of Fasting For Athletes
As mentioned, fasting during Ramadan involves abstaining from food and water from dawn until sunset. This means fasting can impact hydration, energy levels, and recovery, essential factors in athletic performance. Furthermore, Ramadan is often associated with sleep pattern disruptions, which may hinder performance. Additionally, since many games and sporting events’ schedules are pre-determined, it can be difficult for events to be timed around iftar, the breaking of the fast.
In a study conducted on two Algerian professional soccer teams of 55 men, researchers found a significant decline in speed, dribbling speed, agility, and endurance during the fasted state compared to a non-fasted state (Zerguini et al., 2007). Furthermore, this study demonstrated that approximately 70% of the athletes studied felt their performance and training were both negatively impacted by fasting (Zerguini et al., 2007). These findings emphasize the need to explore methods to support Muslim athletes during Ramadan so they can meet their professional and religious obligations.
Adjusting Schedules to Accommodate Fasting Athletes
Leagues, teams and governing bodies should consider altering events and training schedules to accommodate fasting athletes. Specifically, studies have shown that training in the early morning, and late evening before or after breaking the fast is the optimal time for athletes to train (Maughan et al., 2012; Burke and King, 2012). Scheduling training sessions closer to the end of the fasting period, or several hours after athletes break their fasts, allows nutritional interventions targeting recovery to be implemented following the training session (Maughan et al., 2012). In addition, late sessions may enable athletes to break their fast during the session, providing them with increased energy for a portion of the session.
Nutrition and Hydration Strategies
To maintain optimal performance, fasting athletes should consume a balanced meal containing carbohydrates high in fibre and protein for suhoor (CSCM, 2025). Throughout the night, athletes should be encouraged to maintain hydration by consuming water and electrolytes to regain their hydration levels for the following day. For iftar, fasting athletes should be encouraged to drink a small, easily digestible meal, followed by a rest period, and then a larger balanced meal rich in complex carbohydrates and proteins. Teams should encourage tailored nutritional plans emphasizing hydration and consumption of pro-recovery foods.
Cultural Awareness and Diversity Training
To support fasting athletes, coaches, managers, teammates, and staff must know the month, what it means, and its impact on athlete well-being and performance. Leagues should organize information sessions in the months leading up to Ramadan, including tips for supporting fellow athletes who may be fasting. Cultural awareness can foster inclusivity and support for athletes observing Ramadan.
Conclusion
Sports organizations and teams should work to implement the strategies above to improve Muslim athletes’ experience playing their sports while fasting for the month of Ramadan. Despite this, there are many examples of Muslim athletes who continue to perform at a high level despite fasting. Fostering inclusivity in sports enables athletes to perform at the highest possible level while building a connection with global audiences.
References
Burke, L. M., & King, C. (2012). Ramadan fasting and the goals of sports nutrition around exercise. Journal of Sports Sciences, 30(sup1), S21–S31. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2012.680484
Ramadan information for athletes and coaches. Canadian Sport Centre Manitoba (CSCM). (2025, March 6). https://cscm.ca/blog/ramadan-information-for-athletes-and-coaches/
Hafez, S. (2025, February 28). FA Cup: Matches to pause for fasting Muslim players during Ramadan. BBC Sport. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/crknng7307zo
Maughan, R. J., Zerguini, Y., Chalabi, H., & Dvorak, J. (2012). Achieving optimum sports performance during Ramadan: Some practical recommendations. Journal of Sports Sciences, 30(sup1). https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2012.696205
Zerguini, Y., Kirkendall, D., Junge, A., & Dvorak, J. (2007). Impact of Ramadan on physical performance in professional soccer players. British journal of sports medicine, 41(6), 398–400. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2006.032037