The Brazilian consensus meeting concerning sports and military activities and the sickle cell trait was held on September 3rd, 2007 in Rio de Janeiro and brought together experts, and members of the armed forces and sickle cell disease associations. Issues related to the practice of professional and amateur sports and military service were widely discussed based on the scientific literature and the experience of each participant. These were the final recommendations: 1. an individual with sickle cell trait can practice any type of sport because there is no consistent epidemiological data to recommend the contrary; 2. hemoglobin screening is not needed for individuals who want to practice sports, whether as amateur or professional sportspeople; 3. it is not necessary to undergo a screening test for hemoglobin to serve the armed forces, which means that the carriers of the sickle cell trait can serve the armed forces; 4. it must be made clear to the different segments of society that heterozygosis for hemoglobin S does not confer any specific risk to the practice of physical activities, provided the basic conditions of hydration and rest are observed.
Sickle cell trait; sports; Army