Background. Although tapering techniques are widely used in a variety of sports, guidelines for the programming of an optimal tapering strategy in wrestling have not been well established. Objectives. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of two types of tapering on the plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the performance of elite male wrestlers. Methods. Thirty elite male wrestlers participated in four weeks of incremental high-intensity wrestling training (competition season), and were randomly divided into three equal groups to train for one week as the Tapering 1 Group (50% reduction in training volume), Tapering 2 Group (75% reduction in training volume), and Control Group (training with the same volume). Blood samples were collected from all participants at the beginning of the first week and at the end of the fourth and fifth weeks. Plasma levels of IL-6 and TNF-a were assayed using standard commercial ELISA kits. Aerobic and anaerobic power, sprint, agility, muscular endurance, and strength tests were done to measure performance factors. Results. The findings revealed that the performance score (F3,41=29.15; p<0.001), IL-6 (F2.729,36.839 = 116.7; p<0.001), and TNF- (F2.846,38.428 = 8.11; p<0.001) elevated significantly after four weeks in all groups but decreased, increased, and increased significantly during the fifth week in the Control Group. Besides, after one week of tapering (both 50% and 75% reduction in training volume), performance score and plasma levels of IL-6 and TNF- increased significantly, decreased, and suppressed, respectively. Conclusion. Elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine levels associated with decreased performance score and one week`s taper with 50% and 75% reduction in the volume of training essentially reverse these changes and there are no differences between the two strategies of tapering.
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