Purpose Rapid weight loss (RWL) is well-known phenomenon amongst wrestlers. It is characterized by a reduction of ~5% of body weight during the last week before the competition, with the aim of increasing the probability of winning against a potentially lighter athletes. Along with traditional weight loss procedures, competitors usually attend high intensity sport-specific training (HISST) sessions to facilitate the weight reduction. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of RWL together with HISST and the impact of HISST without RWL on hematological parameters in wrestlers. Methods The sample consisted of 12 Greco-Roman wrestlers (mean body weight 73.48±4.52 kg, age 24.3±5.1 years, body height 175.22±3.68 cm). The investigation consisted of 3 phases: Initial measurement (IM), high-intensity sport-specific training combined with RWL of 5% (phase 1 - P1) and only high-intensity sport-specific training (phase 2 -P2). In P1 wrestlers used self-chosen procedures of weight cutting. After each phase blood sampling was performed to measure the changes in hematological parameters: red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), white blood cells (WBC) and platelet (PLT). Results All of the athletes reduced 5% of their body weight successfully. The number of RBC significantly decreased in P2 compared to IM (p=0.030). The values of this parameter were also lower during P2 compared to P1 (p=0.009). HGB content significantly decreased in the P2 compared to P1 (p=0.012). The HCT concentration significantly decreased in P2 compared to IM (p=0.005). Lower values of this variable were recorded during P2 when compared to P1 (p=0.010). A significant increase in the number of WBC was registered during P1 (p=0.000) and P2 (p=0.000) compared to the IM. The level of PLT increased significantly during P1 compared to MI (p=0.003), while in P2 recorded values were significantly lower compared to P1 (p=0.001). Conclusion The results of this study showed that weight loss of 5% when practiced both with and without HISST stimulated alterations in the examined parameters. Specifically, when RWL was combined together with HISST increase in considered variables was induced to a higher extent compared to the HISST performed alone, revealing a considerable impact of weight cutting procedures on hematological parameters
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