An Empirical Investigation of Violence Against Women in the NFL

2021 ◽  
pp. 019372352110436
Author(s):  
Krystyna Gotberg ◽  
Jacquelyn D. Wiersma-Mosley
Keyword(s):  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Violence Against Women ◽  
Empirical Investigation ◽  
National Football League ◽  
Driving Under The Influence ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
Violent Behaviors ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Performance Enhancing Drugs ◽  
Violent Offenses

The purpose of this study was to examine violence against women (VAW) in the National Football League (NFL). Since Ray Rice assaulted his partner on video, VAW by NFL players has received more public attention. However, there is little empirical research that examines VAW in the NFL and player suspensions compared to other violations. Data come from a public list of 176 NFL players known to have violated NFL policies from 2010–2019. Four major types of violations were found: VAW included sexual assault, rape, and domestic violence; general violent behaviors included assault or battery; drug-related offenses included substance abuse, alcohol, driving under the influence (DUI's), illegal drugs, and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs); and minor sports-related infractions included issues such as missing a team meeting. The average number of game suspensions was 4.08 for VAW offenses, 1.75 for general violent offenses, 4.05 for drug-related offenses and 1.88 for minor infractions. We found no differences in the number of game suspensions for drug-related offenses compared to VAW; general violent offenses had even fewer suspensions. These numbers are contradictory to the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy of a 6-game suspension without pay for VAW and general violence.

scholarly journals The impact of image and performance enhancing drugs on bi-ventricular structure and function in strength-trained athletes and the association to fat-free mass

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
B Morrison ◽  
N Chester ◽  
R Mcgregor-Cheers ◽  
G Kleinnibbelink ◽  
C Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Allometric Scaling ◽  
Strain Imaging ◽  
Fat Free Mass ◽  
Composition Analysis ◽  
Lv Mass ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Performance Enhancing Drugs ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Performance Enhancing

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Private grant(s) and/or Sponsorship. Main funding source(s): Canadian Institute of Health Research Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement Background Image and performance enhancing drugs (IPED) cause cardiac enlargement and dysfunction. Previous work has not assessed impact of user status (current [CU] vs. past [PU]) or allometric scaling cardiac dimensions for individual differences in fat-free mass (FFM). Purpose To investigate CU and PU of IPED and allometric scaling on LV and RV remodeling in strength-trained athletes. Methods Thirty-four (29 ± 6 years; 82% male) strength-trained athletes were recruited. Fourteen were CU, 9 PU and 11 non-users (NU) of IPEDs.  Participants underwent bioelectric impedance body composition analysis, IPED and training questionnaire and 2D echocardiography with strain imaging. All structural data was allometrically scaled to FFM according to the laws of geometric similarity. Results CU and PU had significantly higher FFM compared to NU (82.4 ± 10.1 kg vs. 72.0 ± 6.3 kg vs. 58.2 ± 14.0 kg). Absolute values of all RV and LV size were larger between CU and NU. LV mean wall thickness (MWT) was larger in CU compared to PU but there were no differences between PU and NU. Allometric scaling eliminated all differences with exception of LV mass and LVMWT. LVEF was significantly lower in CU and PU compared to NU (55 ± 3 vs. 57 ± 4 vs. 61 ± 4) whilst LV GLS was lower in CU compared to PU and NU and LV GCS was lower in CU compared to NU but not PU. There was no significant difference between groups for RV functional indices. Conclusion  Strength-trained athletes currently using IPEDs have bi-ventricular enlargement as well as reduced LV function. Allometric scaling highlights that increased size is partially associated with a larger FFM, with exception of LVMWT which is independently increased through IPED use. PUs demonstrate reverse structural remodeling whilst functional differences partially remain. CU PU NU RVD1 (mm) 45 ± 5* 43 ± 6 37 ± 6 Scaled RVD1 (mm/kg^0.33) 10.5 ± 0.9 10.4 ± 1.5 9.7 ± 1.0 LVd (mm) 58 ± 7* 55 ± 4 50 ± 4 Scaled LVd (mm/kg^0.33) 13.4 ± 1.2 13.3 ± 0.7 13.1 ± 0.6 MWT (mm) 10 ± 1*” 8 ± 1 8 ± 1 Scaled MWT (mm/kg^0.33) 2.3 ± 0.2*” 2.0 ± 0.1 2.0 ± 0.2 LVEDV (ml) 169 ± 42* 135 ± 28 116 ± 28 Scaled LVEDV (ml/kg) 2.0 ± 0.4 1.9 ± 0.3 2.0 ± 0.2 LV Mass (g) 255 ± 85*” 179 ± 30 137 ± 40 LV mass index (g/kg) 3.1 ± 0.8* 2.5 ± 0.3 2.4 ± 0.4 * CU and NU “ CU and PU ^ PU and NU Abstract Figure. Myocardial strain imaging

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