A sports coach at the Taiwanese University has released a formal apology on a research project, which, according to local media, was reportedly involved in giving blood to their students.
The 61-year-old Chow Tai-Ying stated that his intention was to help his team “because I had only a few players and they were often injured”, but it is not really known what blood was being taken for.
A Taiwan politician, Chen Pei-U, brought the case to light in 2024, alleging that the students were told that they would lose academic credit if they did not participate.
An internal investigation at the National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) in Taipei later found that a blood sample was launched in 2019 and continued in 2024 for various “research projects”.
Taiwan’s focus news agency reported that coach Chow, who asked unqualified students to help withdraw blood, apologized on Saturday through “careless words and behavior” through “any pressure on school and students”.
“It is definitely I think it is my fault to feel the way you did,” he told the students through a statement.
Professor Chen Hasu-Chuh, a leader of one of the unspecified research projects, also issued an apology.
He said that its purpose was to help students athletes, but admitted that it inadvertently harms them and their families.
The internal investigation indicated that the students had given blood once a day. The samples were thrown out after investigation, the way the blood was drawn.
Chen Pei-U originally alleged that the research project required the players to give three blood samples a day directly for 14 days. He said that the players needed to participate in the project over many years.
NTNU principal Wu Cheng-Chi apologized on Saturday, which he called the school’s negligence. He said that the morality and overcast processes of the institution would be reviewed.
The Deputy Education Minister of Taiwan said that the matter will be reviewed by his department, as well as action of Chow and chain will also be taken.
Separate, the Ministry of Education on Thursday said that it could cancel the coaching license of NTNU women’s football coach without nominating the person.
