Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: Brazil
Ryan Sidle
Hulk lost so much weight through sweat during a game on Wednesday night that it left the Atletico Mineiro striker struggling to give a urine sample.
The former Porto striker returned to Brazil to play for Atletico Mineiro in January 2021, his first club in his home country since leaving for Japan in 2006.
Last year, the club's physio explained that the forward lost an incredible amount of weight during matches, because of the amount he sweats during games.
The club have to go to extra measures to make sure the 35-year-old remains hydrated during matches and on Wednesday that was a problem after the match.
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Hulk has revealed that, following Mineiro's loss in the Copa do Brasil to Flamengo, he lost so much weight that he had to drink 30 litres of water in order to be able to get enough liquid in his body to give a urine sample for a drugs test.
"Since I arrived at Atletico, that was the game in which I was most dehydrated. I lost six kilos today," he told Globo Esporte.
"It was tiring [doping control]. I was tired. I started [the game] with 97 kg, finished with 91 kg. I fell on anti-doping. I stayed there for four hours, drank 30 litres of water.
"But it was difficult to urinate. It worked. Now it's time to go home."
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It wasn't a good night for the former Zenit St Petersburg player, with Giorgian de Arrascaeta brace earning the hosts a 2-0 win at the Maracana.
That meant them overturning the 2-1 deficit from the first leg of the last 16 game and dumping Atletico out of the cup, although they're still in the Copa Libertadores.
However, after full time, it took him so long to finally give a urine sample that he'd missed the rest of his teammates leaving Rio de Janeiro for Belo Horizonte.
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Reports claim that the striker didn't leave the national stadium until 3.50 in the morning and he had to get a private jet home on his own.
So far this season Hulk has smashed in 23 goals in 30 appearances for the Brazilian side, but he didn't score with his biggest smash of the season.
The 35-year-old, who turns 36 this month, attempted a free kick against Santos last month, and it was one of the hardest shots you're likely to see.
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Unfortunately for the striker, and his team, the incredible set piece attempt smacked off the post and into a defender, who hit the deck.
That's why he needs so much water, to keep his strength up.