Chou Tai-ying, a 61-year-old coach, faces scrutiny after claims that she pressured students at National Taiwan Normal University to donate blood, with severe repercussions for non-compliance. An internal review revealed these practices dated back to 2019, prompting apologies from university officials and a commitment to reevaluate ethical guidelines.
Taiwanese University Coach Faces Fallout Over Alleged Blood Donation Coercion
Taiwanese University Coach Faces Fallout Over Alleged Blood Donation Coercion
A sports coach at National Taiwan Normal University has issued an apology after students alleged coercion to donate blood for research projects, leading to an internal investigation.
A sports coach at a prominent Taiwanese university has publicly apologized for allegedly pressuring her students into donating blood as part of a controversial research project. Chou Tai-ying, who coaches at the National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU), expressed regret over her actions, which had reportedly coerced students with threats of lost academic credits if they did not comply.
The case first came to public attention in 2024 when Taiwanese politician Chen Pei-yu raised concerns about the ethical implications of the blood donation requests. According to reports, the students were required to participate in a blood donation program that supposedly aimed to benefit injured athletes on the team. However, the actual purpose of the blood samples taken has not been clearly defined.
An internal investigation revealed that the practice began in 2019 and persisted until 2024, involving multiple research projects. Coach Chou acknowledged she had asked students who were not fully qualified to assist in the blood withdrawals, and issued an apology through Taiwan's Focus News agency, stating, "It is definitely my fault for making you feel the way you did."
Additionally, Professor Chen Hsueh-chih, the lead researcher on the project, admitted that they intended to aid student-athletes but acknowledged that the process had inadvertently caused distress to the participants and their families. Reports suggest that students had been giving blood up to once a day, with the samples ultimately discarded due to improper procedures.
While Coach Chou has taken responsibility for the situation, NTNU principal Wu Cheng-chi issued a statement expressing remorse for the school's negligence and assured that the institution would conduct a thorough review of its ethics and oversight practices.
Taiwan's deputy education minister further stated that the case would be examined closely, including the conduct of both Chou and Chen. The Ministry of Education has also indicated that it might reconsider the coaching license of a separate individual linked to the case, although the specific name was not released.
The investigation has sparked a broader debate regarding the ethical treatment of student-athletes and the responsibilities of educators in ensuring their well-being.
