Even after rigorous questioning by lawmakers, they still could not concoct any proof on the connection between football head injuries and brain disease. US Representatives in Congress repeatedly asked Dr. Ira Casson, former co-chairman of the NFL’s panel on head injuries and a neurologist in New York on the matter. The doctor’s only answer is that there is no valid, reliable or scientific evidence that causes long-term brain damage due to repeated head impacts.

Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif, even compared the NFL’s stance to tobacco companies who denied the connection of smoking and lung disease. She said that it is ridiculous for the doctor to say that concussions do not cause long-term cognitive problems. The congresswoman added that even ordinary people would know the effects of repeated blows. According to Sanchez, NFL’s concussion committee was formed in 1994 and said, “it seems to me that the NFL has literally been dragging its feet on this issue until the past few years.” “Why did it take 15 years?”

Casson claims that there have been flaws in the head-injury studies that were recently conducted including some funded by the NFL. He said that he strongly disagree with the position that the scientific evidence is already conclusive and further research is no longer needed. Casson also added that more research must be undertaken on the effects of performance-enhancing drugs on the brains of football players. Lawmakers also questioned other witnesses on the possible steroid links. Since performance enhancing drugs are commonly used by players in football, its effects to the brain are also being look into. This issue is also similar to the allegations that most hip injuries of professional athletes were primarily caused by performance enhancing drugs.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was not present during the hearing which was held on the campus of Wayne State University. Last October, he was already questioned regarding the concussion policies of the league. NFL has already formulated stricter return-to-play guidelines for players who show concussion symptoms. The league has required each team to enlist an independent neurologist as an adviser, entered into a partnership with Boston University brain researchers who have been critical of the league’s stance on concussions, and conducted tests on helmets. The validity of those tests was questioned by witnesses at the hearing.

Casson also questioned the merits of the new guidelines of the league regarding the independent neurologist mandate. He has doubts on the expertise of the neurologists and questioned if their opinions are going to be independent and reliable. Also present in the Monday’s hearing is Joseph Maroon, a team doctor for the Pittsburgh Steelers and a current member of the NFL concussion committee. Sanchez asked Maroon on what took the NFL a long time to bring about the rule changes. “I dispute your position that nothing has been done since 1994,” is Maroon’s only reply.

Meanwhile, West Virginia University brain researcher Bennet Oamalu, testified it “has been established since the early 20th century” that repeated blows to the head cause damage. Executive director DeMaurice Smith of the NFL Players Association , also told Congress that NFL has not shared the injury data it collected from every player from 2006-2008. Another witness, West Virginia University brain researcher Bennet Oamalu, testified that it “has been established since the early 20th century” that repeated blows to the head cause damage.

With this hearing, lawmakers and the league’s official should come up with new guidelines and policies to protect the welfare of the players. If indeed steroids and head injuries cause brain damage to football players, an immediate action is needed.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS