Head153 injury expert resigns
THE integrity of sport’s concussion protocols is under serious scrutiny after one of the world’s most influential medical decision-makers handed in his resignation following accusations of plagiarism.
Professor Paul McCrory is the Australian academic who was chair of the Concussion in Sport Group. The CISG have influence worldwide as they meet for a conference every four years to recommend diagnostic tools for concussion and return-to-play protocols applied to football, rugby union and other sports.
The group, who have close ties to sporting bodies as they are funded by FIFA, World Rugby and other organisations, have also courted controversy for their refusal to accept that Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a consequence of repetitive head trauma in sport, despite the increasing number of athletes found demented and diagnosed with the disease.
Prof McCrory had a reputation for being one of the chief cheerleaders in denying CTE is worthy of concern, with the Australian previously describing the NFL concussion crisis as ‘all that carry-on and hoo-ha you get from the United States’. He was due to chair the next CISG conference later in 2022 — the sixth to be held — but has offered his resignation after allegations of plagiarism in his work.
It was sparked by a piece about warm-ups published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in 2005. That article has been removed for ‘unlawful and indefensible breach of copyright’ and more of his work is now under the microscope.
Currently a professional footballer who is concussed on a Saturday can return to play in time for his team’s next fixture the following weekend, as per the CISG’s protocols.
That has been criticised as too convenient for the game by campaigners and Prof McCrory’s alleged indiscretion raises questions over recommendations the group have made in the past.
CISG said: ‘On March 5, 2022 the board accepted the voluntary resignation of Prof Paul McCrory. With immediate effect, Prof McCrory has also resigned from the scientific committee of the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport to be held in Amsterdam.’