Controversy Erupts Over "Vampire" Football Coach at Taiwan's NTNU
A disturbing scandal has emerged from National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU), where a veteran football coach stands accused of compelling female student-athletes to repeatedly donate blood in exchange for academic credits necessary for graduation. The allegations, which have sparked outrage across Taiwan and beyond, spotlight long-standing concerns about coercion, student welfare, and institutional accountability in university sports programs.
The Allegations: Blood Donations Under Duress
The controversy centers on Zhou Tai-ying, 61, a highly regarded football coach in Taiwanese collegiate sports. A former NTNU player, identified only as Jian, publicly accused Zhou of forcing players to undergo multiple blood draws, sometimes up to three times a day across 14 consecutive days. Jian claimed refusal meant risking withheld academic credits, potential expulsion, and delayed graduation.
“It was truly blood and sweat for credit,” Jian recalled in a poignant social media post accompanied by a video showing her tearful struggle as staff repeatedly tried to find veins for blood sampling. “By the eighth consecutive day, veins were nearly impossible to locate.” Over her tenure, she alleges enduring more than 200 blood draws, all purportedly under the guise of participating in campus research.
Unsafe Practices and Financial Misconduct Alleged
Beyond the physical toll, students revealed that these blood draws were often conducted by untrained personnel, calling into question the safety and ethics of such procedures. More troubling were accusations that funds allocated for research participant compensation were diverted by Zhou under the label of “team funds,” highlighting a misuse of university resources.
Former students also shared stories of intimidation and silence enforced by Zhou and university officials, indicating a culture that may have suppressed disclosure for years.
Institutional Response and Public Backlash
In response to public outcry, NTNU took unprecedented steps: Zhou was dismissed from her coaching and administrative roles and barred from future sports positions on campus. The university issued a statement on July 13 along with a handwritten apology from Zhou expressing remorse for the students’ pain and institutional damage.
However, the subsequent removal of both the apology and official statement from NTNU’s social media channels intensified speculation of a cover-up and eroded trust among students and the broader public.
Local education authorities have imposed administrative penalties on NTNU and mandated corrective measures, yet Zhou has remained largely silent aside from her initial apology.
Broader Implications for Student Welfare and University Governance
This case shines a spotlight on critical issues surrounding student-athlete exploitation, informed consent, and university oversight. It raises pressing questions about:
- The ethical boundaries of combining academic credit with biomedical procedures.
- The responsibility universities have to ensure safe research practices and transparent management of funds.
- The mechanisms available for students to report abuse without fear of retaliation.
For American and international observers, the NTNU scandal underscores the need for stringent regulations and respectful treatment of student-athletes involved in research or extracurricular programs. Protecting students from coercive practices is paramount to upholding both human rights and institutional integrity.
Editor’s Note
The unfolding events at NTNU serve as a disturbing reminder of how power imbalances within academic institutions can lead to serious ethical breaches. While the coach’s dismissal signals initial accountability, the removal of public statements hints at unresolved transparency issues. This story compels universities globally to reexamine safeguards around student involvement in research and ensure support systems are robust enough to protect vulnerable individuals. As the investigation continues, the voices of current and former students must remain central to driving meaningful reform.
