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" There are fears that many professional football players could be risking their health and careers by taking large quantities of painkilling and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Professor Jiri Dvorak, chief medical officer of Fifa, told the international football organisation&amp;#039;s website that research suggests around half of players - from under-17s through to senior internationals - are using painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. While some take them under prescription to ease existing pain, Professor Dvorak believes others use them before games to reduce any potential discomfort - a practice that he warned could be &amp;#039;dangerous&amp;#039;. &amp;#039;[Players] have to understand that if discomfort or pain is being suffered, it means that something is not functioning correctly,&amp;#039; the expert pointed out. &amp;#039;By masking symptoms through painkillers, you could be covering something which could be important in the long run.&amp;#039; Professor Dvorak also noted that repeated use of these medicines can be &amp;#039;particularly dangerous&amp;#039; for professional sportspeople, as their kidneys work harder during high-intensity exercise and are therefore more vulnerable to damage from strong drugs. The deputy director of the World Anti Doping Laboratory in Cologne recently told the BBC that painkillers &amp;#039;fulfil all requirements of a doping substance&amp;#039; because they enhance performance by switching off pain and reducing post-training recovery time. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/news/a22511/fifa-chief-medic-warns-of-painkiller-abuse/>