Napoli's chief medic has revealed that the club have a strict 'no sex' rule for players in order to avoid them picking up injuries.
Professor Alfonso De Nicola said that the Azzurri players are forbidden from any sexual activity for two days prior to a match.
"Avoiding sexual activity for two days before a game is fundamental to prevent muscular strains, contractions or inflammations," he 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 alarm bells for an injury can go off at any time and a signal has to be immediate, just as the consultation is very quickly organised."
De Nicola lauded the Napoli players for following the rule and added that they are given certain exercises to do when they are at home.
"The players must be praised for the professional approach they take in their private lives too," he continued. "They must always continue certain exercises at home that are taught in the training camp.
"For example, an alteration in posture can create an anomaly in their movements. There are simple rules to follow even when they are not training.
"If a player has a muscle that tends to contract, he must perform movements that tend to stretch it at any time of the day."
Napoli have won both their games in Serie A so far this season.
Subhankar Mondal
