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| Ex-player Kevin Henry took the NFL to court over the fund earlier this year. (Photo by=Getty Images) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] Documents filed with a US court show that the NFL has agreed to end race-based testing for compensation claims made by ex-players suffering from dementia, BBC Sports reported. It follows revelations that the previous testing system was based on a formula that assumed black players have a lower level of cognitive function.
This "race-norming" made it harder for black players to prove they suffered from injuries linked to their careers. The draft agreement means thousands of retirees may qualify for compensation. The 46-page document pledges that: "No Race Norms or Race Demographic Estimates, whether Black or White, shall be used in the Settlement Program going forward." Around 1,435 players, many of whom are black, will now be given the chance to have their tests rescored, or in some cases, seek a new round of cognitive testing. A panel of experts will also develop a new standard that will apply to all future tests under the scheme, any claims that have not yet been ruled on, and all claims that are currently on appeal.
The vast majority of the league's players, over 60% of living retirees and 70% of active players, are black. The NFL's concussion fund has paid out $856 million (£600m) for five types of brain injuries, including early and advanced dementia, Parkinson's disease and Lou Gehrig's disease (also known as ALS) since it’s established in 2013.
