This case is not only a matter of research ethics, but also a glaring example of power abuse and institutional failure to safeguard students. Real accountability is needed—not empty apologies.
Shraon
@sharon_think
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The coach retained their teaching position, receiving only minor administrative penalties (such as no salary increases and no extra teaching assignments). The doctoral degree was not revoked—only dissertation corrections and a three-hour ethics course were required.
Coach Zhou Tai-Ying conducted doctoral research without Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, and consent forms were signed after the research had already started. Students were required to return participant fees, which were then used as team funds.
Students faced explicit threats of credit deduction, expulsion, and being unable to graduate if they refused to participate in the blood draws. Blood somtimes was drawn by individuals without medical or nursing credentials.
A briefing of NTNU Women's Soccer Blood Drawing Scandal
Please help spread this for greater global attention.
Since 2017, members of the NTNU women’s soccer team have suffered systematic abuse under the guise of Coach Chou's research. Players were subjected to blood drawing three times a day for 14 consecutive days, resulting in hundreds of samples. In addition, athletes were compelled to process their own blood samples, separating serum and plasma themselves.