Paul McCrory, PhD, an academic and physician specializing in sports neurology, resigned as chair of the Concussion in Sport Group following allegations of plagiarism related to an article on warmups published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, The Athletic reported March 4.
As chair of the CISG, which is funded by FIFA and the International Olympic Committee among other governing bodies, Dr. McCrory helped develop concussion protocols used in the NFL, soccer, rugby union and other contact sports.
Every four years, the CISG publishes findings in the Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport, of which McCrory was the lead author, according to the report. The document forms the basis of concussion guidelines and evaluation protocols implemented by the NFL and England's Football Association, among others.
Physicians around the world have also adopted the CISG's Sport Concussion Assessment Tool to evaluate athletes 13 and older who suffer head injuries.
Critics of the CISG argue as to whether it can provide objective guidance on concussion because the group is funded by governing bodies.