A blood sample of 4 mL was drawn from all participants 30 minutes prior to the match simulation, in a sitting position, from a forearm vein. A second blood sample was drawn 15 minutes after the simulated match (90 minutes of physical activity) from a forearm vein of the other arm. Several aliquots of whole blood, as well as plasma and serum fractions, obtained after centrifugation, were prepared and stored at −80°C until analysis.