Why Fai̇zullaev didn’t pass the medical yesterday?

Yesterday, fake news appeared in Russian publications claiming that Uzbekistan national team midfielder Abbosbek Fayzullaev failed the medical at İstanbul Başakşehir.

In reality, the footballer flew to Istanbul yesterday, and it became clear that the medical had not yet been carried out.

In many cases, when a footballer flies from one city to another, a medical examination is not conducted immediately afterwards. We asked artificial intelligence the following question: if a person undergoes a medical examination immediately after arriving by plane, will their results differ from a usual (on ground, rested, stable conditions) medical exam? The answer was as follows:

Yes, if a person undergoes a medical exam immediately after a flight, their condition compared to a usual medical exam (on the ground, rested, stable conditions) may present some differences. These differences are mainly due to the temporary effects of the flight on the body.

What differences can be observed?

1. Blood pressure and heart rate
Blood pressure may be elevated or unstable. This is related to stress, fatigue, dehydration or hypoxia (lack of oxygen).

Heart rate may be higher than baseline – especially after a long flight or stressful landing.

2. Changes in blood tests
Hematocrit (indicator associated with dehydration) may be slightly elevated.

Hemoglobin levels may also temporarily rise.

There may be temporary changes in D‑dimer, thrombosis markers, even liver enzymes (on long flights).

3. Oxygenation (SpO₂) level
Oxygen saturation may decrease (especially in elderly, or those with lung or heart conditions).

If normally 96–99 %, after the flight it may drop to 90–94 %.

4. ECG changes
After a short flight, tachycardia, sometimes mild ST‑segment changes (related to oxygen deficiency), or arrhythmias may be observed.

5. Temperature and general condition
Sometimes uneven body temperature, fatigue, eye redness and dry mouth are observed – this may lead a doctor to suspect infection or viral condition, but usually it’s a physiological reaction to the flight.

What should be done?
If an important medical exam (for licensing, athlete or military) is carried out 3–12 hours after a flight, results will be more accurate and objective.

Now you know why footballers don’t undergo a medical immediately after a long flight. Abbos Fayzullaev will soon take the medical for his new club and sign the contract.

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