FIFTEEN athletes who are going to the coming Southeast Asian Games will be selected to undergo blood testing and a study on their metabolic profile.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco said this will be done following the return of Brazilian sports science expert Prof. Luis Cameron.
Cameron, who was in the country last November, introduced a laboratory tool called “sportonomics” in studying the metabolic profile and nutrition of athletes.
“We’re limiting this to 15 athletes. I would like this be separate (activity). The focus will be on the athletes. The athletes will likewise be focused,” said Cojuangco in a weekly radio program.
The system is reportedly effective in aiding their performances of athletes.
Cameron, who is a neurochemist and a member of the Brazil High Performance Institute, made his lectures and demonstration with athletes and coaches last November.
The joint task force of the POC and Philippine Sports Commission is currently meeting athletes, coaches and leaders of various national sports association to select athletes who can go to the biennial meet.
The athletes chosen will be done once the selection process for the SEA Games is finished, added Cojuangco.
Long jumper Marestella Torres, taekwondo jin Kirstie Elaine Allora, both Rio Olympic veterans; and 800-meter runner Mervin Guarte, a 2015 Singapore Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, were among those who underwent metabolic profiling while Cameron was around.
Cameron’s system is about the study of blood samples of athletes.
It determines how they use the nutrients they get, whether they are the right ones for their respective sports and if they are getting the most out of it.
