- A dozen Tufts players in Boston have been diagnosed with a rare muscle problem.
- Five of those players remain hospitalized while undergoing further tests.
- The problems arose after voluntary training conducted by a former student of the school.
A dozen men’s lacrosse players at Tufts University in Boston have been diagnosed with a rare muscle injury after a voluntary workout conducted by a former student with Navy SEAL training, according to a school spokesman.
Five players remain in hospital after being diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a potentially life-threatening condition that causes muscle breakdown into the bloodstream.
“Our thoughts are with the players and their families, and we hope they quickly return to good health under the care of local medical experts,” school spokesman Patrick Collins wrote in a statement.
“In the meantime, we are closely monitoring the condition of the remainder of the team and have postponed all team practice activities until each team member has been evaluated and medically cleared to return to participation,” he added.
Both the number of confirmed cases and the number of hospitalized people could change, Collins said.
Tufts University Jumbos players celebrate winning the 2024 Division III National Championship
According to the Cleveland Clinic, rhabdomyolysis is an injury in which a person’s muscles waste away. This potentially life-threatening condition can occur after another injury or excessive exercise without rest.
Given the severity of the injuries, Tufts is appointing an independent, outside investigator to conduct a thorough review as quickly as possible, with the goal of taking all necessary steps to support the safety of the school’s student-athletes, he said.
The university is still learning about the circumstances that led to the injuries, he said, and cannot provide additional details until the investigation is complete.
The Tufts Jumbos are coming off an NCAA Division III title after beating RIT at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia last spring.
