It's a question that only a sports fan would think to ask, and the answer is... It depends.
Over at Fanhouse this morning, Chris Tomasson looks at the issue, and one of the Iran coaches explains the situation like so:
"We have a rule that, if you stay less than 10 days and you're in trouble, you can break your fast. Based on the rules, we don't have to fast, no. If you stay less then 10 days and you're in trouble, no problem. You can break your fast and do it another time.''
And "in trouble" does NOT mean "facing an overwhelming favorite in Team USA", it seems. It can mean just about anything, if someone's facing unusual amounts of stress, work-related or not. The other teams at the FIBA Championships have adopted a similar stance.
"During Ramadan, we can't do it,'' Tunisia guard Marouan Kechrid said of trying to fast during the event. "It is very difficult. We must practice in the morning and you play in the afternoon. It is very difficult for us. We know that we can do it later.''
And a Turkish civilian explained Ramadan in general, painting exactly the picture that I'd imagine if the United States ever had to fast en masse:
"Our country is secular and most of the people are fasting during working hours ... That makes Turkish people who have jobs ultra angry. Not (just) because they can't eat or drink, but they also can't smoke for several hours.
Sounds ... A bit grumpy.
On the other hand, certain athletes do fast as part of their religion; notably, Hakeem Olajuwon and Shareef Abdur-Rahim. What accounts for the difference? Fanhouse's Bethlehem Shoals searches for an explanation:
In the case of NBA players,10-day road trips are extremely rare, unless you're the Spurs during rodeo time. My theory, which I invite you to disagree with, is that fasting for a month is only possible if you acclimate your body to it. Going back and forth depending on home or away games would prevent this adjustment from taking place. Reza, however, feels that playing basketball for a living while fasting is only possible through a sort of "mind over matter" effect, one distinctly related to the ritual itself. He points to the fact that Olajuwon consistently played some of his best ball during Ramadan. Fasting didn't have to be worked around. It was itself a source of strength.
Indeed, fasting would seem to be more realistic over the course of a month with a relatively consistent schedule, as opposed to a week where athletes are playing games at different times of the day in a different time zone, and generally confusing the hell out of their body, even without fasting.
Do athletes fast for Ramadan? If they can... Then yes. If not, and they're "in trouble", the Koran allows some leeway. The more you know...