A Liverpool consultant neurologist has called for the controversial sport Power Slap to be banned. He is worried the longer it goes on, the more likely the younger generation will want to take part and copy the contestants.

Austin McCormick who is based at Aintree Hospital has become the sport’s latest critic after revealing the effects repeated slaps to the head can have on a person. “I think it should be banned and certainly shouldn’t be promoted if only to reduce the number of young people who will copy this that may lead to brain injury.”

Alongside, Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts, Wrestling, and more recently football and rugby union, Power Slap has become the latest ‘sport’ to cause neurological concern. Male and female contestants take turns to slap each other across the face for three rounds, the winner is decided via knockout or the judge’s decision.

McCormick says: “Power Slapping as a sport is basically head trauma and it will involve acceleration and deceleration in addition to rotational movement to the head and these sorts of injuries are particularly damaging to young people.”

Unlike other combat sports, competitors are not allowed to defend themselves to try and reduce the impact of the slap.

The sport originated in Russia, video clips have gone viral, showcasing devastating knockouts and disfigured faces.

According to McCormick the brutal sport can cause life threatening brain and ear drum damage: “The sort of injuries we are talking about here are brain injury, early dementia, acute stroke or brain hemorrhage, and ultimately death.”

He points out that at a time when rugby union and football are coming to terms with head trauma cases, by it’s very nature Slapping does exactly the opposite.

Last month, the sport made its mark in the USA after being licensed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and has been recently adopted by UFC President, Dana White who set up a Power Slap League which is broadcasted on TBS.

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