News24
04 Mar 2021, 01:13 GMT+10
British lawmakers are to hold an inquiry into the link between sport and long-term brain injury at a time of growing concern across rugby and football.
A group of former professional rugby players including England's World Cup-winning hooker Steve Thompson are involved in a legal case against a number of governing bodies after being diagnosed with neurological conditions.
England 1966 World Cup winner Bobby Charlton has recently been diagnosed with dementia. Four other members of the side - Nobby Stiles, Jack Charlton, Martin Peters and Ray Wilson - were suffering with dementia at the time of their deaths.
A 2019 study carried out in Scotland found that professional footballers were three-and-a-half times more likely to die from neurodegenerative disease compared with members of the general population.
MPs on the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee will call witnesses to examine the issue, starting from next week.
"We will look particularly at what role national governing bodies should be taking and their responsibilities to understand risks involved for players and what actions might be taken to mitigate them," said DCMS committee chairperson Julian Knight.
"We're seeing a number of cases involving brain injury in sport likely to reach the doors of our law courts and we will also look at the implications for sport in the longer term of any successful legal claim."
The English Football Association last month announced it was commissioning new research into what causes an increased risk of dementia among professional players.
Concussion substitutes are being trialled in the Premier League and the FA Cup in a bid to ensure players are not left on the pitch with suspected concussion to suffer damaging secondary impacts.
Football authorities in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland last year issued guidance banning heading in training for young children.
Get a daily dose of North Korea Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to North Korea Times.
More InformationATLANTA, Georgia: The United States is facing its worst measles outbreak in more than three decades, with 1,288 confirmed cases so...
In the past month alone, 23 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza—three more than the number of remaining living hostages held...
LONDON, U.K.: At least 13 people are believed to have taken their own lives as a result of the U.K.'s Post Office scandal, in which...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Travelers at U.S. airports will no longer need to remove their shoes during security screenings, Department of Homeland...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: An elaborate impersonation scheme involving artificial intelligence targeted senior U.S. and foreign officials in...
SLUBICE, Poland: Poland reinstated border controls with Germany and Lithuania on July 7, following Germany's earlier reintroduction...
REDMOND, Washington: Artificial intelligence is transforming Microsoft's bottom line. The company saved over US$500 million last year...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A federal rule designed to make it easier for Americans to cancel subscriptions has been blocked by a U.S. appeals...
BASTROP, Texas: In a surprising turn at Elon Musk's X platform, CEO Linda Yaccarino announced she is stepping down, just months after...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak will return to Goldman Sachs in an advisory role, the Wall Street...
LONDON, U.K.: Physically backed gold exchange-traded funds recorded their most significant semi-annual inflow since the first half...
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: Some 32 percent of global semiconductor production could face climate change-related copper supply disruptions...