The 13 Iowa football players who were hospitalized last week have been released from the UI Hospitals and Clinics. The athletes, who appeared to suffer from symptoms of rhabdomyolysis — a muscle syndrome — were admitted to UIHC on Jan. 24 and Jan. 25.
Rhabdomyolysis is the release of muscle-fiber contents into the bloodstream, and it can lead to kidney damage. Symptoms can occur with repeated muscle trauma or heavy exercise.
“Getting all 13 student-athletes healthy and out of the hospital has been priority No. 1 all along, so I’m very happy that they all are now back home and resuming their lives,” Hawkeye head coach Kirk Ferentz said in a statement. “These young men and their families have been through a difficult and trying time. They are under my supervision and watch, and I am truly sorry for what they’ve experienced. They trained extremely hard and ended up in the hospital, and there is no indication they did anything wrong.
“So I’m pleased they are progressing well, and I look forward to seeing all of them being back to normal.”
Five of the athletes were released on Jan. 28, and six more were discharged the following day. The final two were sent home Sunday.
The players were taken to UIHC when they suffered from extreme muscle soreness and discolored urine after completing NCAA-permitted winter workouts.
“There has been a lot of speculation by those who don’t have the facts, and it is unfair and inappropriate for anyone to make wild guesses about what happened,”Ferentz said.
Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta said he was pleased all of the student-athletes could begin to return to their academic, athletics, and personal lives. The focus now will turn to discovering the cause of the situation — which will include reviewing the workouts and talking with everyone involved.
Barta said, “I hope those who follow our program will respect this process moving forward and refrain from any further unproductive rush to judgment.”