In brief
Chou Tai-ying, the coach in question, has publicly apologized amid revelations from an internal investigation and allegations of coercion.
A sports coach from National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) has come under fire for allegedly pressuring students into donating blood for research projects, prompting her to issue a formal apology. Chou Tai-ying, 61, claimed that her intentions were to support her under-resourced team, which has faced numerous injuries. However, the precise purpose behind the blood donations remains unclear.The controversy began when Taiwanese politician Chen Pei-yu revealed the allegations in early 2024, suggesting that students were coerced into compliance with threats of losing academic credits if they refused. An internal investigation conducted by NTNU revealed that blood sampling practices commenced in 2019 and continued until 2024 across various research initiatives.Chou admitted to requesting help from students who lacked qualifications to assist with the blood draws and extended an apology for the pressure she exerted, describing her behavior as “reckless.” In her statement, she expressed remorse for any discomfort caused to the students, acknowledging her fault in the situation.Professor Chen Hsueh-chih, who led one of the unspecified research projects, also issued an apology, acknowledging that the intent was to support student-athletes, although the execution led to unintended harm for them and their families. The investigation reported that some students had to donate blood daily, only for the samples to be discarded due to procedural errors found during the review.Chen Pei-yu had initially claimed that students were made to provide three blood samples a day for a consecutive 14 days, with participation spanning several years. In response, the principal of NTNU, Wu Cheng-chi, offered an apology on Saturday, recognizing the university's negligence and pledging to enhance ethical oversight. The issue has caught the attention of Taiwan’s deputy education minister, who announced that the case will be reviewed, along with the actions of both Chou and Professor Chen. Furthermore, the education ministry hinted at the possibility of revoking the coaching license of another women's football coach from NTNU, though the individual has not been named.
