Despite a positive fan reception, it received a mediocre response from music critics at the time of its release, and was commercially unsuccessful, failing to chart in the band's home country of the UK.

[1][2] Bloodsport was released on 22 January 2002 on CD as well as double red vinyl, through record label Tommy Boy.

The recording sessions were mainly in rural France and several Bloodsport era songs which weren't included on the final album were released elsewhere: Miami Counting appears as a B-side for the Loretta Young Silks single, the Sick single and the Japanese edition of Bloodsport contain a track called After Every Party I Die, which was later re-recorded by Chris Corner's side project IAMX and released on the album The Alternative, O-Type was included as a B-side on the 12-inch vinyl single of Bloodsport but was never released in the digital realm and a completely unreleased track called Polaroids was later used on the IAMX album Kiss and Swallow, albeit in a totally revamped and remixed form.

Despite garnering a positive response from listeners and fans on Metacritic,[5] Bloodsport was given a generally negative reception from music critics at the time of its release.

[sic]"[7] All tracks are written by Chris Corner; Liam Howe; Ian Pickering, except "Grazes"