National Anti-Doping Agency scientist David Muller says Rafael Nadal did nothing illegal with the use of painkillers at the French Open but adds a regular use of painkillers can have a negative impact on someone’s health.
. For two weeks straight, Nadal was using anaesthetic injections and anti-inflammatories to numb the pain in his foot caused by the Mueller-Weiss syndrome. When Muller was asked about Nadal’s use of painkillers, he suggested that they only put an athlete in a position to go out and compete pain-free.
“The use of painkillers is not about increasing your performance, but about restoring your normal physical condition,” Muller said, as quoted on Sportskeeda. “However, if Nadal can only train and play in pain and with painkillers, his body is literally screaming, ‘stop.’
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Nadal set for Wimbledon
After winning the French Open, Nadal returned to Spain for a treatment on his foot. Nadal’s foot responded well to the treatment and he appears to be set to compete at Wimbledon. This week, Nadal plans to play two matches at the Hurlingham exhibition.
“I experienced some improvements, different feelings on my foot, honestly. I take that like a positive thing,” Nadal said. “My intention is to travel to London, play two matches there before the tournament starts and just follow my normal schedule to prepare the best way possible [for] Wimbledon.
Today, that’s all I can say. I’m positive about that”. Nadal is having a great season as he has won four titles so far in 2022. After starting the season with victories at the Melbourne Summer Set, Australian Open and Acapulco, Nadal ended runner-up in Indian Wells.
In Indian Wells, Nadal sustained a rib stress fracture and missed the next month and a half. After returning from the injury, Nadal won the Frnch Open. Now, Nadal is hoping to win his third Wimbledon title.
