Exploring Ramadan fasting in elite sport

A new funded PhD at Liverpool John Moores University is exploring the intersection between Ramadan fasting and elite athletic performance.

The university is delivering the research in partnership with Performr, the metabolic performance wearable company, and Nujum Sports, the leading organisation championing Muslim inclusion in sport.

The research will be hosted by LJMU’s world-renowned Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences (RISES), ranked first in the North West and top 20 in the world for Sports Science (QS World University Rankings 2025). 

RISES is home to research collaborations with elite organisations including Everton FC, Liverpool FC, and British & Irish Lions and England Rugby.

Managing Ramadan fasting in elite sport

This PhD is a multi-phase global research programme examining how elite Muslim athletes manage Ramadan fasting across diverse sports and regions.

It will comprise four integrated studies:

• A global survey
• A wearable cohort study
• Cognitive and skill performance testing
• A cultural ethnography

Using Performr’s advanced wearable platform, which captures real-time data on glucose, lactate, hydration, and other key metabolic markers, the project will generate practical insights for athletes, coaches, and clubs.

Shaping more inclusive and culturally-informed practices

The research will focus on athletes from football, rugby, athletics, cycling, combat sports, basketball and badminton, across regions including the UK, Qatar, Egypt, Malaysia and the United States.

The project aims to shape more inclusive and culturally-informed practices in elite sport by producing sport- and region-specific toolkits, multilingual education resources, and data to inform training, recovery, and support strategies tailored to the demands of Ramadan.

This project represents exactly the kind of impact-led research we’re passionate about at LJMU. It brings together scientific rigour and cultural relevance. By combining advanced physiological monitoring with a deep understanding of faith-based needs, we aim to produce actionable insights that can truly support Muslim athletes at the highest levels of sport.

Dr Rebecca Murphy, Director of School of Sport and Exercise Sciences at LJMU

Dr Louise Blair, Co-founder and CSO of Performr, added: “We’re honoured to support this important initiative. Our wearable technology provides real-time, personalised metabolic data, and we believe this research will demonstrate how tools like Performr can enable smarter, safer training strategies during fasting periods.

"As a company committed to inclusive, personalised performance solutions, we’re excited to see how this collaboration drives real impact, both for individual athletes and for the wider sporting ecosystem.”
 
Ebadur Rahman, Founder and CEO of Nujum Sports, said: “Supporting Muslim athletes isn’t just about awareness, it’s about meaningful action. This PhD will deliver the kind of evidence clubs, coaches, and governing bodies need to build inclusive and supportive environments.

"LJMU is the ideal academic home for this work, and Performr brings a vital data-driven layer to the project. Together, we hope to show that faith and peak performance can absolutely go hand in hand.”

The PhD commenced in summer 2025 and is jointly overseen by LJMU academic leads, with close collaboration continuing with Performr and Nujum Sports throughout.