AFL concussion expert Paul McCrory at centre of plagiarism claims

The expert who helped write the AFL’s concussion rules has had more articles removed from a leading medical journal over plagiarism concerns and other serious issues.

The AFL has been urged to completely “reset” its return to play concussion protocols after the expert who put those rules in place had more articles retracted from a leading medical journal.

Florey Institute expert Paul McCrory has had nine further articles retracted as a result of concerns over plagiarism and other serious issues from the British Journal of Sports Medicine, with 38 more deemed to be of “concern”.

As the AFL’s leading expert on concussion and the chair of the Concussion in Sport Group, McCrory shaped concussion policy in sport despite drawing into doubt links between head knocks and degenerative brain injury CTE.

Only after a series of revelations, including the Herald Sun’s reports on the plagiarism and his work on AFL players while banned from certain brain tests, did the AFL launch an inquiry into his work.

The AFL said on Tuesday the league’s review would be released publicly in coming weeks, with its current return-to-play policy at least 12 days.

The website Retraction Watch said on Tuesday nine McCrory articles were retracted – five for alleged plagiarism, three for duplication and one for allegedly distorting a source.

The expressions of concern have been placed on 38 other articles.

Brad Sheppard (left) retired after a series of head knocks.

The AFL’s chief medical officer Michael Makdissi will present at the International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport as well as former AFL concussion working group member David Maddocks.

AFL concussion campaigner Peter Jess said the continued damaging allegations against McCrory undermined the league’s entire approach to concussion.

“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reset the proper parameters for return to play, and we are sending what I consider to be our least-qualified team to that conference,” he told the Herald Sun.

“We need a complete reset on return to play protocols. His science and his evidence are the cornerstones of the AFL’s return to play protocols. We now know it is in doubt.

“My strong view is we need to send a leading group of scientists in the brain trauma field to the Netherlands to ensure there is a proper representation for our sport.

Paul McCrory.

“It is impossible to have a concussion management strategy that doesn’t have a proper testing regime. If you don’t test you don’t understand what is happening to the brain’s function.

“Research with biomarkers is comprehensively pointing to a longer period out of the game than a shorter period. We have a return to play protocol that is not validated in science and medicine.”

Former West Coast player Brad Sheppard believes players should step out of football for up to 28 days after a concussion after he retired because of a series of head knocks in AFL football.

New twist in Tuck concussion probe

– Rebekah Cavanagh

An independent review into the AFL’s controversial concussion expert Paul McCrory is expected to make “adverse” findings against two people, a court has heard.

The AFL appointed senior lawyer Bernard Quinn KC in April to lead the review into the research and advice the former doctor gave when advising on concussions of footballers.

It came following allegations against the world-renowned neurologist of plagiarism of research, and that he treated at least five former players for concussion despite a ban on him conducting neurodiagnostic procedures, nerve conduction studies or electromyography.

The review, which is expected to be finalised this month, will form key evidence in the coronial probe into the death of former Richmond footballer Shane Tuck.

Former AFL footballer Shane Tuck had the most severe case of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) of any footballer diagnosed with the crippling condition. Picture: Michael Dodge.

The Coroner’s Court heard on Friday how the inquest into Mr Tuck’s death had been delayed while state coroner Judge John Cain waited for the review into Mr McCrory to finalise.

Ben Ihle KC, representing the AFL, told the court the report was “imminent”.

But he said it had been delayed as Mr Quinn proposed “two persons against whom findings that may be considered adverse”.

Dr McCrory is understood to be one of those.

But it was not aired in court who the second person was.

Mr Ihle said the two people have “been afforded procedural fairness” and were given until close of business on Friday to respond.

“The expectation at the moment is that within the next week or two that report will be finalised,” Mr Ihle said.

Shane and wife Katherine Tuck in 2012. Picture: Quinn Rooney.

He said the AFL was “keen” to be involved in the investigation into Mr Tuck’s death “to learn what we can from the process”.

Mr Tuck, 39, who played 173 games from 2004 to 2013, took his own life in July 2020, aged 39.

An autopsy revealed the former Tiger had the most severe case of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) of any footballer diagnosed with the crippling condition.

An inquest, to be held next year, will focus on what can be done in the future to stop head knocks and concussions, that result in CTE, in sport.

Gideon Boas, counsel assisting the coroner, said they would be watching closely what comes of the international consensus conference on concussions in sport, to be held in Amsterdam, later this month, as part of the probe into Mr Tuck’s death.

Tuck also jumped in the ring for five fights after his AFL career. Picture: Michael Dodge.

“I understand there has been some movement in science relating to concussions in sport and CTE since the conference last met,” he said, adding that it had not been held in recent years due to the pandemic.

Judge Cain will particularly look into protocols and guidelines around concussion in the AFL and boxing industries — both of which Mr Tuck was involved in, having hit the ring for five fights following his football career.

He hopes to make recommendations to prevent such CTE injuries in the future.

The Herald Sun has contacted the AFL for comment.

Originally published as AFL concussion expert Paul McCrory at centre of plagiarism claims