Hepatitis B is a life-threatening disease of the liver to which there is no cure.  It is highly contagious, even more so than HIV - the virus that causes AIDS. 

A new study of Olympic lifters found that Hepatitis B is detected in the sweat of infected individuals and can be transmitted between participants of contact sports.

It is being suggested that contact sport competitors be tested for and vaccinated against this disease at the beginning of their career.