Benayoun opts for human over horse
442 Staff - Tuesday 24 November 2009, 16:18
Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun has revealed the controversial treatment he received for his hamstring injury in Serbia used human rather than horse placenta.
Benayoun visited Marijana Kovacevic’s clinic, along with team-mates Glen Johnson, Albert Riera and Fabio Aurelio, to receive treatment in order to drastically improve his recovery time.
Kovacevic’s work hit the headlines after Arsenal striker Robin van Persie’s treatment for curing ankle ligament damage involved using a horse placenta.
The doctor’s wonders have attracted scepticism, though, from experts who believe the procedure could have serious side effects, while Serbian health authorities are investigating Kovacevic’s license to perform the treatment.
Benayoun was expected to be sidelined for a month but, after receiving the treatment, was absent for just a fortnight.
And the Israeli international admitted he is amazed to be back in action just a couple of weeks after sustaining the injury and paid tribute to the doctor’s efforts.
“There was no animal parts used and no injections,” Benayoun told Sky Sports.
“The doctor has treated a lot of players and it seems to be held in very high regard.
“She explained everything to me beforehand and told me she would use fluid from a placenta that had come from a woman.
“Nothing went into the muscle itself. It was a case of massaging the liquid around the affected area.
“It meant I was able to play again and help the team at an important time within a fortnight. I never envisaged being on the pitch again so soon, and it shows what can be done with this treatment.”