According to a recent report from Football Italia, Napoli’s club doctor claims a sex ban keeps players out of harm’s way.
"Avoiding sexual activity for two days before a game is fundamental to prevent muscular strains, contractions or inflammations," Professor Alfonso De Nicola told Corriere del Mezzogiorno.
"It is the rule for our squad. There is also a specific work done by my staff and the fitness coaches which is aimed more at prevention than cure.
"The players must be praised for the professional approach they take in their private lives too. They must always continue certain exercises at home that are taught in the training camp."
Napoli’s manager Walter Mazzarri led the club to a fifth place finish in Serie A and a quarterfinal place in last season’s UEFA Champions League in 2011-12. With the help of Edinson Cavani and Marek Hamsik, the Naples outfit captured the Italian Cup last year.
Mazzarri’s squad only missed fifty games due to injury, compared to other clubs – AC Milan, Internazionale and Roma – who missed over 100 games last season respectively.
Other recommendations in the doctor’s regimen include sticking to a strict eating timetable, organic meals, not drinking alcohol and documenting muscular twinges.
Information from NESN was used in this report.
