Another NCAA Absurdity: Banning an Athlete Due to His CBD Epilepsy Medicine
By Ken Reed
Is there any organization in America that lacks common sense more than the NCAA?
Yes, that’s a rhetorical question. But I’m continually amazed at the stupidity of the NCAA and its member institutions.
The latest example to cross my desk is the case of C.J. Harris. Harris was recruited by Auburn to play football as a preferred walk-on. Harris was thrilled about the opportunity, especially since he’d been battling severe epileptic seizures since middle school. In recent years, he was able to get his seizures under control by using cannibas oil (CBD). CBD is the medicinal part of marijuana. It’s distinct from THC, the part of marijuana that gets you high. A bonus was the fact the CBD oil didn’t result in the multiple side effects that Harris was experiencing while on traditional medicine for his epileptic seizures.
However, after Harris submitted his medical records, Auburn reneged on their offer, citing the NCAA’s rules against THC use among athletes. The CBD oil that Harris uses “contains less than 0.3 percent THC, according to the label.”
Harris and his family have been sharing information about his condition and the benefits of CBD oil for his epileptic seizures with the media, legislators, Auburn coaches, etc., all to no avail. Auburn doesn’t want to fight the NCAA on the matter and the NCAA has its collective head stuck in the sand on the topic.
As a result, Harris will be watching Auburn play football from the stands or on TV next season instead of being on the sidelines with teammates.
It’s a sad, unnecessary, and easily fixable situation.
— Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans
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Episode #29 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: The Honorable Tom McMillen Visits League of Fans’ Sports Forum – McMillen is a former All-American basketball player, Olympian, Rhodes Scholar and U.S. Congressman. We discuss the state of college athletics today.
Episode #28 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: A Chat With Mano Watsa, a Leading Basketball and Life Educator – Watsa is President of PGC Basketball, the largest education basketball camp in the world. We discuss problems in youth sports today.
Episode #27 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Kids’ Sports: How We Can Take Back the Game and Restore Quality Family Time In the Process – Linda Flanagan is author of “Take Back the Game: How Money and Mania Are Ruining Kids’ Sports and Why It Matters.” We discuss how commercialized and professionalized youth sports are hurting kids and their families.
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"How We Can Save Sports" author Ken Reed appears on Fox & Friends to explain how there's "too much adult in youth sports."
Ken Reed appears on Mornings with Gail from KFKA Radio in Colorado to discuss bad parenting in youth athletics.
“Should College Athletes Be Paid?” Ken Reed on The Morning Show from Wisconsin Public Radio
Ken Reed appears on KGNU Community Radio in Colorado (at 02:30) to discuss equality in sports and Title IX.
Ken Reed appears on the Ralph Nader Radio Hour (at 38:35) to discuss his book The Sports Reformers: Working to Make the World of Sports a Better Place, and to talk about some current sports issues.
- Reed Appears on Ralph Nader Radio Hour League of Fans’ sports policy director, Ken Reed, Ralph Nader and the New York Times’ Tyler Kepner discussed a variety of sports issues on Nader’s radio show as well as Reed’s updated book, How We Can Save Sports: A Game Plan. Reed's book was released in paperback in February, and has a new introduction and several updated sections.
League of Fans is a sports reform project founded by Ralph Nader to fight for the higher principles of justice, fair play, equal opportunity and civil rights in sports; and to encourage safety and civic responsibility in sports industry and culture.
Vanderbilt Sport & Society - On The Ball with Andrew Maraniss with guest Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director for League of Fans and author of How We Can Save Sports: A Game Plan
Sports & Torts – Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans – at the American Museum of Tort Law
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