Sickle cell trait tests likely to expand despite costs

Affecting one in 12 African-Americans, the sickle cell trait is a gene abnormality that can cause athletes to die during strenuous exercise and has done so on multiple occasions. Now, the NCAA is taking action.

On June 28, 2009, the NCAA agreed for the first time to recommend to its member institutions that schools test for the sickle cell trait as part of a required medical exam for Division I athletes. The NCAA mandated testing for the trait in August
of 2010.

“Testing for sickle-cell trait in athletes was initiated by the NCAA to protect athletes from complications related to sickle cell trait,” said Dr. Daniel Kraft, director at Riley Hospital for Children Sports Medicine.

“Those complications came to light and gained more attention over the past decade. The concern is that athletes with sickle cell trait are thought to possibly be at risk for cardiac-related danger when they are exposed to extremes of dehydration or altitude.”

The sickle cell trait is far less prevalent in Caucasian populations where it affects only one in 10,000 people.

This agreement comes as a result of the NCAA settling a lawsuit filed by the family of Dale Lloyd Jr., a football player from Rice University who died in 2006 due to complications from the sickle cell trait.

Eugene Egdorf, attorney for the Lloyd family, expressed hope that Lloyd’s case would prevent future deaths due to this trait.

According to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, 16 Division I football players died due to causes independent of trauma. Nine carried the sickle cell gene that contributed to these deaths, according to the National Athletic Trainers Association.

According to an Associated Press report, the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sport recommended that the same test be implemented for Division II and III athletes as well.

This recommendation can not be approved by the Division II and III management councils until the 2012 NCAA national convention at the earliest.

“The NCAA can not discriminate against athletes and must therefore offer the testing to all athletes,” Kraft said. “The most significant reason why the testing is just reaching Division II and III could possibly be the actual cost of the tests.

“The fact that there are more Division II and III schools and less money in their athletic budgets makes it tougher to implement more screening tests like sickle cell.”

Division II and III schools do not receive nearly as much money from television contracts or merchandise sales as most Division I institutions.

Take for example Bellarmine University, a Division II school in Louisville. Though the Knights are the defending national champions in men’s basketball, they receive less national exposure and funding than Division I institutions.

Christopher Radford, the NCAA Associate Director of Public and Media Relations, said via email the NCAA is exploring ways to offer the tests to members of each division at reduced rates.

“As for the effectiveness of the test, it should be the same at the lower divisions as it is at Division I,” Kraft said.

“The NCAA also does not want to discriminate between its athletes when it comes to medical issues and therefore I think needs to offer the test at the lower divisions if it is going to maintain the test in Division I.”