LONDON (UK) – The UK government on Wednesday declared the launch of an enquiry into the long-term effects of head injuries in sport. It will delve into the latest scientific studies with governing bodies and athletes across two sessions starting next week.
The Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Committee (DCMS) will make an assessment of links between concussion and dementia and efforts for improvement of player welfare in professional sports, with the first session to be held on March 9.
The committee will also derive evidence, based on the implications for youth sport and funding requirements, which would help scientific research.
Julian Knight, chair of the DCMS committee, said in a statement, “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.”
“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.”
Concussions and their long-term effects have gained prominence after former players submitted a class-action lawsuit against governing bodies World Rugby, England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) which levelled allegation about a failure to protect them from the risks.
It has been striking fact that many have been diagnosed with permanent brain damage, early onset dementia, depression or symptoms and signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
World Rugby, the RFU and the WRU said they take player safety very seriously, in a joint statement in December,
“Rugby is a contact sport and while there is an element of risk to playing any sport, rugby takes player welfare extremely seriously and it continues to be our number one priority.”