In elite sport, sports science and medicine are applied at various times to optimise performance and to minimise risk. Sporting bodies and teams invest heavily in systems to identify and develop talent, often at great cost, but with relatively small returns. Evidence suggests that subtly - and sometimes radically - different approaches are needed, yet few organisations have applied this evidence to change their processes.

Similarly, contact sports face a concussion crisis, and many well-intentioned experts and stakeholders offer solutions to reduce and manage the consequences of brain injuries. However, many sports either do not or cannot adopt what seem, at least from the outside, to be sensible solutions and practices. Why not simply fix these problems based on the available evidence?

In this presentation, Professor Ross Tucker will explore the trade-offs we must understand and accept to apply sports science and medicine effectively - even if sub-optimally - by examining evidence from fields such as talent identification, doping in sport, concussion reduction initiatives, and the controversial topic of fairness in women’s sport.