Competitive Athletes with Cardiovascular Disease — The Case of Nicholas Knapp

Abstract

A variety of congenital cardiovascular abnormalities are the principal causes of sudden death in young competitive athletes,15 and some of these tragedies have been widely publicized.6 The identification of important cardiovascular abnormalities in highly trained athletes often leads to medical and legal controversy over the decision to disqualify such athletes from competition.6,7 The criteria for assessing medical eligibility in such circumstances have been of interest to athletes and their families, their physicians, and representatives of the schools or teams involved, as well as the legal profession.810 Sometimes such debates have attracted the attention of the general public . . .