Dietary restrictions are widely applied to those athletes who are classified by weight categories, in order to reduce body mass. Sixteen senior wrestlers were studied in various phases of the training cycle in order to determine the relationship between the percent body fat and testosterone concentration in serum. The examinations were conducted just before the preliminary events, when the athletes attained lowest body mass, and after the competition period, when their body parameters returned to original values or even exceeded them. However, the procedures aimed at reducing body mass and, eventually, to assign the athlete into a lower weight category, may bring about side effects, e.g. hormonal disorders. Medical decisions regarding body mass reduction ought to be individualised. It has been generally agreed that the only acceptable way to reduce athlete's body mass is to apply, under medical control, a low-calorie diet together with adequately monitored physical exercise.
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