In the wake of 13 members of the Iowa football program being hospitalized following a series of strenuous workouts, the university announced today that they have commenced an investigation into the situation.
Technically speaking, the probe began shortly after the players were hospitalized for what’s being described as exertional rhabdomyolysis. All 13 players remain hospitalized, and could remain there until early next week.
In the meantime, the probe into the cause or causes of the medical issue will continue and is expected to last 90 days. The university is utilizing independent medical experts as part of the process.
Here’s the complete statement from the school, which was attributed to David Miles, president of the Iowa Board of Regents, and Sally Mason, president of the University of Iowa.The health and well-being of students at all of Iowa’s Public Universities is of paramount concern to the Iowa Board of Regents and to the University of Iowa. As such, the recent hospitalization of 13 University of Iowa football players following pre-season workouts is a cause for grave concern. Our immediate focus is the full recovery of each of the young men involved, and we continue to closely monitor the medical condition of our student-athletes. In that regard, we commend the UI Athletics Department for its quick response to the student-athletes’ health needs, and wish to express our confidence in the care that they are receiving at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
“Going forward, it is essential that we take the necessary steps to understand the factors that led to this to ensure that it never happens again,” said Miles. “This morning President Sally Mason and I agreed to a 90-day timeline for completion of a root cause analysis of the events that led to the need to hospitalize these young men. At President Mason’s direction, this analysis was already underway shortly after the incident, and I appreciate the University’s efforts to involve independent medical experts in the process from the earliest moments.”
“The primary aim of this analysis will be to identify, to the extent possible, the root causes of this incident in order to create and implement effective preventative measures to ensure this does not happen in the future,” added Mason. “It is an essential responsibility of the University to determine what is likely to have caused this rare condition among so many young men at one time, and to share those findings.”
The results of the investigation will be made public upon completion of the probe.
Perhaps by then key members of the athletic program will have publicly addressed the situation.