Gayle’s death returns spotlight to student-athlete health

THE RECENT death of student-athlete Taneisha Gayle of Edwin Allen High School has prompted head track and field coach Michael Dyke to call on the ministries of health, education, and sport to collaborate on creating mandatory medical forms for all students.

“This form should be subsidised by the government,” Dyke said.

“Cost will be a major factor, as the current medical screening process done by schools is woefully inadequate and fails to identify underlying illnesses in students.”

He added, “Many students participating in physical education and competitive sports are at risk. This could cause fear among parents and students when serious illness or death occurs. It can also rob the country of future stars, as some may turn away from sports or have their lives cut short due to a lack of proper screening.”

Dyke revealed that following Gayle’s death last month, all sporting activities at Edwin Allen were suspended.

“After Taneisha’s passing, the school halted all training for competitive sports and conducted a comprehensive screening of all track and field and football athletes,” he said.

“This venture was very costly — exceeding $1 million — and covered medical examinations, executive profiles, and ECG testing.

“I therefore encourage all schools to ensure that students, especially those in competitive sports, are properly screened before training,” Dyke urged. “This not only protects the students, but also coaches and schools.”

Dyke also disclosed that during the screening process, some students were found unfit to continue training.

“We identified athletes who were at risk and removed them from teams based on doctors’ advice,” he said. “Let’s prioritise our students’ safety and well-being.”

Taneisha Gayle, who died September 12, was laid to rest on Saturday in her home town of Mount Prospect, Manchester.