Regents release rhabdo follow-up report

IOWA CITY - All 13 Iowa football players who were hospitalized in January for rhabdomyolysis have recovered medically, according to a six-month follow-up report conducted by the university's Special Presidential Committee.

The report, which was submitted Aug. 23 and released by the Regents on Tuesday, notes that 10 of the 13 players afflicted with rhabdomyolysis are active members of the current football team.

According to the report, the athletic department has implemented the following steps since the rhabdomyolysis incident:

• The football program no longer will use the workout that triggered the outbreak
• Athletics personnel will be educated on rhabdomyolysis, its causes, symptoms and prevention
• The athletics department will develop effective communication methods to detect or deal with unexpected conditions or problems following a workout
• Athletics teams will be required to test all team members for a condition when one or more teammates develop symptoms of a serious health problem
• The athletics department will provide professional counseling to athletes who develop serious injuries or illnesses associated with their sport
• The athletics department will provide long-term health care to injured student-athletes for physical or psychological reasons
• The athletics department will allow for transparent discussions so doctors, trainers and coaches can discuss information about a player's physical limitations

"I am very pleased with the report that all 13 football players have made a full medical recovery," Regents President Craig Lang wrote in a letter addressed to the Regents. "The well being of our student-athletes is our primary concern. I thank the University for its ongoing careful attending in responding to the individual needs of each player.

"I am also very pleased with the University's implementation of several steps to reduce the likelihood of another incidence of rhabdomyolysis, particularly the University's commitment to never again use the weight-training workout that caused the injuries."

The workout that sent the players to hospital consisted of 100 squats at 50 percent of a player's body weight. All 13 players were released from the hospital within a week of contracting the condition. It's possible the stricken players could develop long-term adverse affects but is unlikely, the report concluded, based on the players' favorable lab results and quick return to a regular training regimen.

The five-member university committee panel found no negligence by coaches or staff when it reported to the state Board of Regents on March 25. Rhabdomyolysis is a condition that can result from overexertion of skeletal muscle and can cause kidney damage. It is potentially fatal.

Of the three student-athletes stricken with rhabdomyolysis and are not playing football at Iowa this fall, one scholarship athlete completed spring football but left the university afterward for personal reasons. Another scholarship player left the team before spring practice but remains on athletic scholarship at Iowa through the 2011-12 to complete an undergraduate degree. Another player, a walk-on, left the team before spring practice to concentrate on academics.