Novak Djokovic’s Tao Patch: Secret weapon or rabbit’s foot?
Novak Djokovic conjured images of Iron Man when he was spotted wearing a Tao Patch earlier this year.
It is unclear how long Djokovic has been wearing the “nanotechnology” patch that he claims is the “biggest secret of his career.”
After being photographed with a small metal disc taped to his chest Djokovic revealed it was a TaoPatch, made by Italian company Tao Technologies.
He is not the only athlete to mak use of or endorse the patches including alpine skiers, beach volleyball players, track and field runners, surfers and boxers.
Tao technologies co-founder Dmitri Leonov has claimed that the TaoPatch contains nanocrystals constructed from quantum dots, which he says convert body heat into “wavelengths of light” that are emitted into the central nervous system and help to “bring it into balance.”
Numerous studies have supported the technology, including one that was published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. This research divided individuals into two groups and evaluated their posture while giving one group an active patch and the other a sham patch. When standing straight, the active patch group swayed less than the control group.
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It should be noted that these studies’ veracity has been contested. Former family doctor and debunker of pseudoscience Hariet Hall investigated the mechanism underlying the patch and concluded it was not believable, labelling it as “pure pseudoscientific gibberish.” According to several studies, the patch can assist individuals with conditions including Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis (MS) walk more upright and with better balance. After reviewing the trials, neurologist Brandon Beaber concluded that the Taopatch is “unproven in MS.” The research Tao mentions are also generally small, financed by the firm, and published in publications of inferior calibre. For instance, the sway monitoring research only looked at 30 subjects, all of whom were female.
The ATP Tour, ITF and ITIA have made no comment on the legality of the use of nanotechnology devices in the sport.
Broadly the ATP’s anti-doping policy bans the use of any “prohibited substance or prohibited method.”
However, given the evidence at hand it would be very difficult to ascertain whether Djokovic actually gains any real advantage from the wearing.
Some might suggest that the Tao Patch doesn’t have to really do anything for Djokovic so long as he believes that it does.
Djokovic has previously come under fire for promoting pseudoscience and his notions regarding diet and supplementation.
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