In what could become a landmark case for player safety, the NCAA and Rice University have settled a lawsuit brought by the family of a Rice football player who died in 2006 due to complications resulting from sickle cell trait.
As part of the settlement announced Sunday night, the NCAA has agreed for the first time to recommend to its membership that it test for the condition that affects one in 12 African-Americans. While the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook has contained language warning against the dangers of sickle cell trait for more than 30 years, the association had not formally recommended or endorsed testing, calling it an "institutional decision."
CBSSports.com reported last month that "exertional sickling" a complication of sickle cell trait, is now the leading cause of death of NCAA football players this decade.
The details of Lloyd's death were part of a document obtained exclusively by CBSSports.com detailing the rash of sickle cell traits deaths this decade.
"The most gratifying part about this case is I am very hopeful and optimistic we have seen the last death of a sickle cell athlete," said Eugene Egdorf, attorney for the Lloyd family.
• Dodds and Ends: Background on sickle cellAs part of the settlement, Rice will help sponsor NCAA legislation to make sickle cell trait testing mandatory. Testing is relatively inexpensive -- $5 for the initial test and $30-$35 for a confirmation test.
An NCAA spokesman said, "Many of our schools already are testing, and while we can't mandate that test we can recommend that. ... An overall priority of ours is to ensure the health and well-being of our student-athletes."
Dale Lloyd II died in September 2006 following a workout at Rice that included 16 100-yard sprints. The Harris County (Texas) medical examiner stated the cause of death was sickle cell trait. Rice was sued for not testing for the trait. The NCAA was also blamed in the complaint for being "negligent for failing to warn ... about the known dangers and risks from sickle cell trait ..."
During intense exertion, red blood cells can "sickle," thus blocking blood vessels and posing a "grave risk" according to the National Athletic Trainer's Association. Experts in the medical field have speculated in the past they believe the NCAA stopped short of recommending testing because of legal concerns, such as racial profiling. While sickle cell trait affects 8 percent of the African-American population, Caucasians can have the condition but are less at risk.
Sickle cell trait deaths in football have become tragically more common in recent years. Five of the 10 deaths in Division I-A football this decade have been attributed to the condition. Since 2000, seven of the 19 non-traumatic deaths in all divisions have been linked to sickle cell trait. Almost half of such deaths in college football -- 15 since 1974 -- have occurred this decade.
A 2006 NATA survey showed 64 percent of Division I-A schools screen for sickle cell trait. In 2007, the NATA took a strong stance, releasing a consensus statement advising schools on how to deal with the condition.
Missouri recently began testing for sickle cell trait after settling with the parents of deceased player Aaron O'Neal for $2 million. O'Neal died in 2005 following an offseason workout due to exertional sickling. The family of Ereck Plancher is suing Central Florida. Plancher collapsed in March 2008 during offseason conditioning drills. His death also was attributed to sickle cell trait.
It is possible to compete safely with the condition. It is recommended that athletes with sickle cell trait be allowed to acclimate themselves gradually to strenuous drills.
Oklahoma's training and medical staff has been a leader in research of the condition and a testing advocate. Curtis Lofton found out he had sickle cell trait after being tested at Oklahoma. He went on to become an All-American linebacker as well as the 2007 Big 12 defensive player of the year. Lofton made several NFL all-rookie teams in 2008 after his first season with Atlanta.
Lofton was incredulous when told recently the NCAA didn't recommend testing.
"Really, are you serious? That's crazy," he said. "How many kids are going to have to die before they make these tests mandatory? I would highly recommend that you do tests. Save a life and save a lot of heartache."
All 50 states screen for the condition at birth, but in many cases families aren't told the results, or they forget or ignore them. The NFL Combine reportedly screens for the condition but obviously that doesn't cover all players who come into the league. In 2007, Steelers safety Ryan Clark had his spleen and gall bladder removed after complications due to sickle cell trait.
The college deaths have followed a familiar pattern: They occur in practice or conditioning instead of practice or a game, and involve overexertion.
"I'd like to think the NCAA thought it was the right thing to do," a person close to the Lloyd case said of the settlement. "I would have liked to think the NCAA lawsuit was the driving force in getting this thing done."
Going forward, the NCAA will produce an educational video on the dangers of sickle cell trait. It will also donate $50,000 to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America and $10,000 to the Dale R. Lloyd II scholarship fund.
Rice now tests all athletes for sickle cell trait. Lloyd's coach at the time, Todd Graham, was a defendant in the lawsuit and is covered by the settlement. Graham is currently at Tulsa.
