2024 - Rafael Nadal: these injections that keep him upright and make his teeth cringe

After winning his 14th victory at Roland Garros on June 5, Rafael Nadal is the subject of questions in the world of cycling. Its use of numerous infiltrations to relieve pain raises the misunderstanding of runners in the face of the differences in regulations depending on the sport.

This is consecration! At 36, Rafael Nadal won his 14th title at Roland Garros on Sunday. A victory all the more impressive as the Spanish player managed to win despite a sore foot. Rafael Nadal is indeed suffering from Muller-Weiss syndrome, a degenerative disease that affects the bones of the foot and which can cause serious chronic pain, but thanks to a series of infiltrations, the player was able to overcome the tournament . Gold, it is precisely this practice that makes cyclists wince. If the latter do not question the brilliant victory of the Spaniard, they wonder about the variations of the rules regarding the use of anesthetics in sport. If the practice is completely legal in tennis, as in many sports – football or rugby, for example – it is strictly prohibited in cycling. A particularly strict regulation, put in place following the many scandals observed in the discipline.

Rafael Nadal: his use of infiltrations makes the world of cycling react

“It’s true that it’s a little strange to see that, because we know that in cycling, we’re really very strict on this because of our history, because cycling hasn’t always been very clean. When you’re sick, you can’t leave! There, this situation is special, it is necessary to clarify all that“, reacted the runner Rémi Cavagna. Same opinion on the side of the runner Guillaume Martin, who spoke in the pages of L’Équipe. “What Nadal did would have been impossible on the bike, and I find that normal. If we are sick or injured, we do not run, we do not compete (…) They pass for heroes, but they use substances to go far in pain“, he said. A gray area that leads some to wonder why we could not standardize the rules for all sports. “It is up to the international sports authorities to regulate all this“, concluded Vincent Lavenu, the AG2R-Citroën training manager.

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Rafael Nadal
The joy of Rafael “Rafa” Nadal (Spain) at the end of the match during the men’s singles final (day 15) at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, June 5, 2022. Nadal wins his 14th Roland-Garros , 6-3, 6-3, 6-0, (22 Grand Slam titles). © Dominique Jacovides/Bestimage

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Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal (Esp) bites into the winner’s Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy during the men’s singles final (day 15) at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, June 5, 2022. Nadal wins his 14th Roland- Garros, 6-3, 6-3, 6-0, (22 Grand Slam titles). © Jean-Baptiste Autissier/Panoramic/Bestimage

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Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal (Esp) during the men’s singles final (day 15) at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, on June 5, 2022. Nadal won his 14th Roland-Garros, 6-3, 6-3, 6-0, (22 grand slam titles). © Jean-Baptiste Autissier/Panoramic/Bestimage

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Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal (Esp) poses with the winner’s Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy during the men’s singles final (day 15) at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, June 5, 2022. Nadal wins his 14th Roland- Garros, 6-3, 6-3, 6-0, (22 Grand Slam titles). © Jean-Baptiste Autissier/Panoramic/Bestimage

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Rafael Nadal
joy of Rafael Nadal (Esp) at the end of the match – Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud during the men’s singles final (day 15) at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris on June 5, 2022.

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Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal (Esp) – Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud during the men’s singles final (day 15) at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris on June 5, 2022.

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Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal – Rafael Nadal poses with the Mousquetaires Cup on the Alexandre III bridge after his 14th victory in the men’s singles final at the French international tennis tournaments at Roland Garros in Paris, France, June 06, 2022. © Christophe Clovis / Bestimage.