The regulation of concussion in professional team sports: time for a harmonised approach?

Abstract

The risk of athletes sustaining concussion while participating in professional team sports raises two serious concerns both nationally and internationally. First, concussion in sport carries a public health risk, given that athletes (in certain sports) are regularly exposed to the risk of sustaining concussion, which can have significant long-term medical complications, with some of the worst cases resulting in Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy for injured athletes. Second, sports governing bodies, and in particular professional sports governing bodies engaged in convening sports where concussion is prevalent (and possibly reasonably avoidable), are now exposed to the risk of financial and re..