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Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Law - More on: "In N.C.A.A., Question of Bias Over a Test for a Genetic Trait"
Updating this ILB entry from Monday, April 12th, the NYT's Kate Thomas reports today under the headline "N.C.A.A. Council Approves Testing for Sickle-Cell Trait" in a story that begins:
Members of the N.C.A.A.’s Division I Legislative Council have approved a measure that requires all athletes to be screened for the sickle-cell trait unless they can show results of a previous test or they sign a release to decline testing.The measure, announced Tuesday after two days of meetings in Indianapolis, was intended to help prevent the sudden death of athletes who carry the trait, a genetic disorder that is present in about 8 percent of African-Americans and less than 1 percent of white Americans. People with the sickle-cell trait are believed to be at a higher risk for death brought on by intense exercise.
At least eight college football players who carried the trait have died as a result of intense training since 2000.
“It’s a step forward,” said Scott Anderson, the head athletic trainer at the University of Oklahoma and a leading advocate for testing. Anderson preferred an earlier proposal that would have allowed athletes to decline testing only if they could show proof of a previous test.
Tuesday’s proposal was seen as a compromise. It needed a 50 percent majority to pass, and it received 34.5 points in support, 11.1 in opposition and 4.2 abstentions. The legislative council is made up of member conferences whose votes are weighted depending on their size.
The measure, which must still be reviewed by the Division I board of directors, would go into effect in August.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on April 14, 2010 07:56 AM
Posted to General Law Related