TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Minister of Health and Welfare, Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源), voiced strong condemnation Thursday (July 17) over revelations that a women's soccer coach at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU, 台灣師範大學) coerced student athletes into submitting to blood tests for research purposes. The visibly angered minister emphasized the government's responsibility to protect student rights. Chiu announced plans for a comprehensive review of the Human Subjects Research Act (人體研究法), Taiwan's primary legislation governing ethical research practices involving human participants.
The scandal first came to light last November when Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民主進步黨) legislator Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜), a member of Taiwan's ruling political party, exposed that the coach had threatened to deduct academic credits from players who refused to participate in the blood tests. This coercive practice violated multiple regulatory frameworks, including both the Human Subjects Research Act and established medical regulations governing proper blood collection procedures.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MHW, 衛福部) has indicated it would take direct action if investigations reveal that medical institutions were complicit in the unauthorized research practices. In a coordinated governmental response, the Ministry of Education has partnered with the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC, 國科會), Taiwan's primary research funding agency. Together they will establish a specialized task force charged with thoroughly investigating the troubling allegations and determining the full extent of regulatory violations.
During Thursday's meeting of the Legislative Yuan's Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee, a key oversight body within Taiwan's parliament, Minister Chiu announced the government would provide psychological support and comprehensive care services for affected student athletes and their families. The ongoing investigation specifically examines how blood samples were handled, stored, and potentially used. The Ministry of Education (MOE, 教育部) leads the inquiry while receiving technical and regulatory support from health ministry officials to ensure a complete and transparent investigation.
