A sports coach at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) in Taipei, Chou Tai-ying, has publicly apologized for her role in allegedly pressuring students to donate blood as part of a research project. Reports indicate that the controversy came to light through Taiwanese politician Chen Pei-yu, who claimed students were threatened with academic penalties if they refused to participate. The blood sampling, which reportedly began in 2019 and persisted until 2024, was ostensibly aimed at supporting player health despite raising significant ethical concerns.
Taiwanese University Coach Apologizes for Alleged Coercion in Blood Donation
Taiwanese University Coach Apologizes for Alleged Coercion in Blood Donation
A university in Taiwan faces scrutiny following allegations of coercion among student athletes regarding blood donations.
Chou, 61, admitted to encouraging students to provide blood, stating her intentions were to aid her under-resourced team that frequently suffered injuries. However, the purpose of the blood donations remains unclear. In her apology, she expressed regret for any pressure exerted on students and acknowledged the potentially harmful impacts of her actions.
An investigation revealed that some students donated blood daily, with samples later deemed contaminated and unusable. Initial allegations suggested that participants were compelled to give multiple samples each day over extended periods, exacerbating concerns about the research's ethicality and safety.
NTNU's principal Wu Cheng-chi also issued an apology, acknowledging the school's negligence in overseeing the program and stating that university ethics and procedural guidelines must be reassessed. Taiwan's deputy education minister confirmed that the case would be further reviewed by the ministry, which may also reevaluate the coaching credentials of implicated staff.
An investigation revealed that some students donated blood daily, with samples later deemed contaminated and unusable. Initial allegations suggested that participants were compelled to give multiple samples each day over extended periods, exacerbating concerns about the research's ethicality and safety.
NTNU's principal Wu Cheng-chi also issued an apology, acknowledging the school's negligence in overseeing the program and stating that university ethics and procedural guidelines must be reassessed. Taiwan's deputy education minister confirmed that the case would be further reviewed by the ministry, which may also reevaluate the coaching credentials of implicated staff.
