Ahead of its self-imposed 90-day deadline, the University of Iowa is releasing the final report on a January workout that sent thirteen Hawkeye football players to the hospital with rhabdomyolysis. Their findings: That a certain squat workout was to blame for the players' kidney malfunctions (in addition to unspecified injuries to other players); that no player's condition was exacerbated by drugs or supplements, and that the university's response to the incident was, obviously, less than ideal. Our Iowa blog wraps up this unfortunate chapter in Hawkeye history:
Iowa Hawkeyes Rhabdomyolysis Report Released; Players Not At Fault
The story here, in both the rhabdomyolysis outbreak itself and the University of Iowa’s handling of it, is one of poor preparation. The report doesn’t explicitly say it, but it certainly implies that the players didn’t return from three weeks spent at home eating turkey prepared to jump into heavy workouts. The report essentially admits that the strength and conditioning staff wasn’t prepared for, or even knowledgeable about, rhabdomyolysis, and had no response when it began spreading through the team. And the report didn’t need to tell us what the FOIA requests had already confirmed, that the athletic department wasn’t anywhere near prepared for what to do once the press and public had it.
For more on the report itself and further discussion, visit Black Heart Gold Pants, where we’re sure they’re thrilled to not have to type “rhabdomyolysis” ever again.
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