In a disturbing incident at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU), questions have emerged surrounding the ethical practices of a sports coach who reportedly pressured student-athletes into giving blood for a research initiative.
Taiwan University Coach Faces Backlash Over Student Blood Donation Pressure
Taiwan University Coach Faces Backlash Over Student Blood Donation Pressure
A sports coach from Taiwan has come under fire for allegedly coercing students into donating blood for research, prompting widespread scrutiny and formal apologies.
Coach Chou Tai-ying, 61, publicly apologized following allegations that she coerced students into participating by threatening their academic standing. Politician Chen Pei-yu flagged the issue, revealing that students were informed they risked losing credits if they did not comply. The troubling practice reportedly began in 2019 and persisted until 2024, leading to an internal investigation revealing that students could have been giving blood daily.
Chou expressed regret for her actions, claiming her intentions were only to support her team, which faced a shortage of players often sidelined by injuries. Her statement acknowledged the distress caused among students, emphasizing it was her fault for pressuring them through her "reckless words and behavior."
Professor Chen Hsueh-chih, associated with one of the research projects, also offered an apology. He clarified that while their aim was to promote the welfare of student-athletes, the outcome was unintended harm to the participants and their families.
The internal investigation revealed that the blood samples were disposed of due to improper collection practices. Initially, allegations from Chen Pei-yu suggested students were subjected to donate three samples each day for two weeks.
NTNU's principal Wu Cheng-chi expressed regret for the institution's oversight and pledged a review of ethical protocols. Additionally, the Taiwanese Ministry of Education reported it would conduct a comprehensive review of the case, including the actions of both Coach Chou and Professor Chen. The ministry is also considering the potential revocation of a coaching license connected to the incident.
Chou expressed regret for her actions, claiming her intentions were only to support her team, which faced a shortage of players often sidelined by injuries. Her statement acknowledged the distress caused among students, emphasizing it was her fault for pressuring them through her "reckless words and behavior."
Professor Chen Hsueh-chih, associated with one of the research projects, also offered an apology. He clarified that while their aim was to promote the welfare of student-athletes, the outcome was unintended harm to the participants and their families.
The internal investigation revealed that the blood samples were disposed of due to improper collection practices. Initially, allegations from Chen Pei-yu suggested students were subjected to donate three samples each day for two weeks.
NTNU's principal Wu Cheng-chi expressed regret for the institution's oversight and pledged a review of ethical protocols. Additionally, the Taiwanese Ministry of Education reported it would conduct a comprehensive review of the case, including the actions of both Coach Chou and Professor Chen. The ministry is also considering the potential revocation of a coaching license connected to the incident.
