New Delhi, Sept. 21 -- For combat athletes, the fight can begin before they even step inside the ring. Varun Sanyal knows.

The mixed martial artist's campaign at the Asian Games ended abruptly on Saturday after he was declared medically unfit ahead of his quarterfinal bout. Sanyal reportedly passed out in a sauna while attempting to make weight.

Around 30 minutes after the session, he developed light-headedness, dizziness and muscle cramps. A medical evaluation diagnosed mild dehydration and his bloodwork showed Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) at the upper end of the normal range.

The episode offered a stark reminder of the lengths to which combat athletes go to make a weight category. The 2024 Paris Olympics gave us a devastating glimpse wh...