In a troubling revelation, National Taiwan Normal University's sports coach has apologized for pressuring students to donate blood for research purposes, raising ethical concerns and prompting institutional reviews.
Taiwan University Coach Faces Backlash for Alleged Coercion in Blood Donation Project
Taiwan University Coach Faces Backlash for Alleged Coercion in Blood Donation Project
Sports coach's controversial actions spark apologies and investigations at National Taiwan Normal University.
A sports coach at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) in Taipei, Taiwan, has come under fire after allegedly coercing her students to donate blood for a research project. Chou Tai-ying, 61, issued a formal apology following an internal investigation that revealed the blood sampling began in 2019 and continued into 2024. The students were reportedly warned that refusal to participate might jeopardize their academic credits, an allegation brought to light by Taiwanese politician Chen Pei-yu.
Chou claimed her intention was to support her team, which had a limited number of players often sidelined by injuries. However, the exact purpose of the blood donations remains unclear. On Saturday, Chou expressed regret for any undue pressure she exerted on her students through “reckless words and behavior,” stating, “It is definitely my fault for making you feel the way you did.”
Professor Chen Hsueh-chih, who was leading one of the unnamed research projects, also expressed remorse, admitting that the initiative, though well-intentioned, inadvertently harmed the students and their families. Investigations revealed that some students were asked to provide blood samples daily, which were ultimately discarded due to procedural flaws.
Originally, Chen Pei-yu alleged that players were compelled to contribute three blood samples daily for a 14-day period, with participation required over multiple years. NTNU's principal, Wu Cheng-chi, extended his apologies for the school's negligence and assured that the institution’s ethical oversight protocols would undergo a thorough review.
Taiwan's deputy education minister has announced that both the case and the actions of Chou and Chen will be scrutinized further. Concurrently, the education ministry hinted that the coaching license of a women's football coach at NTNU may be revoked as a result of these developments.
