C60 Fullerene, this beautiful spherical nanoparticle has found its application in a medical setting , as well as scientific and manufacturing fields. Learn more about the massive impact of nanotechnology in sport equipment production and discover why also the World Anti-Doping Agency is interested in the subject!

C60 Fullerene as a Part of Sport Equipment Materials

The level of competition has become very high lately. No surprise the athletes have searched for eventual ways to elevate their performance and even reduce the risk of getting injured. Nanotechnology and innovative materials used for sports equipment seem to be literally the game changers! Not only they improve athletes' comfort, it makes them safer and more agile than ever before! What are the other advantages they have brought to the professional equipment?

• Enhanced durability
• Reduce friction
• Increased hardness
• Reduced weight
• Wear resistance
• Resiliency
• Enhanced strength to weight ratio

Benefits of Carbon Nanomaterials

If you wonder why especially carbon nanotube, fibers and fullerenes are so often used for these products, the answer lies in their unique structure and consequently their properties! They have excellent mechanical rigidity, higher specific strength and stiffness than other usual materials. At the same time they are extremely light, which makes them to be simply perfect for manufacturing low weight / high resistant tools.

Example of Sports Using Advantages of Fullerenes

Fullerenes and other carbon nanomaterials have helped to improve the performance of many sports persons from various disciplines! You could find them in baseball bats, badminton and tennis racquets, bicycles, hockey sticks, golf clubs, fishing rods, skis, archery arrows, etc. Here are just a few examples of their specific benefits!

• Tennis/badminton. Reduce weight and twisting of racquets frame, vibration control.
• Cycling. Reduce weight and increase stiffness of bicycles.

  Note: Many professional cyclists join tournaments like Tour de France using bicycles which weigh just 1055 grams!

• Golf. Facilitate flexible club whining.
• Archery.Better vibration control in arrows.
• Bowling. Reduce chipping and cracking of balls.

Nanomaterials Including Fullerenes as Prohibited Doping on WADA's List?

The effect of innovative equipment on athlete's performance is undeniably important. WADA continues monitoring all technological advances in the sports equipment category to detect and prevent their misuse in sport, but so far have not prohibited them. With that said, as long as the use of technology is not against the rules of sports federation, it might be allowed. Just for your curiosity, nanotube and nanofibers have been already restricted by the Fedération Internationale de l'Automobile in Formula 1 Racing.

Athlete’s Skills vs. High Technology - Where Is the Boundary?

For pushing the limits and performance level, it only naturally leads to the question: where is the line between human skills and technological advancement? No wonder this might be just the first one to ask! Is the competition still fair if all the participants don't have access to the same technological advantage? What is the value of new records compared to those achieved earlier with no hi-tech help? Does not technology devalue the human-spirit and the natural achievements indeed?

Your opinion? Do not hesitate and leave us your comments!