Wellington, New Zealand — a professional from new zealand rugby The player, who died by suspected suicide last year, had advanced chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain abnormality linked to repeated concussions, according to a post-mortem examination.
The diagnosis was announced on Thursday by coroner Ian Telford, who is conducting a preliminary hearing into the death of shane christie Who died in August at the age of 39.
CTE is a disease that causes progressive damage to brain tissue and causes mood changes, impulsive behavior, and depression, among other symptoms. It can be diagnosed only after death.
Christie was a former New Zealand Māori representative who believed he was suffering from CTE and campaigned for a better understanding of the condition following the death by suspected suicide of his friend and fellow rugby professional Billy Guyton.
The abnormality has also been linked to deaths National Football League And in other sports like Hockey And Football.
Christie’s friends and family said he wanted his diagnosis to be made public to raise awareness of CTE for players who suffer from its symptoms.
Christie, who played Super Rugby for the Crusaders and Highlanders in New Zealand, retired from rugby in 2018 after suffering repeated injuries.
The coroner said pathologist Dr. Clinton Turner “confirmed the diagnosis of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which he described as ‘advanced stage’.” Turner works in the “brain bank” of the University of Auckland, to which Guyton and Christie donated their brains.
The coroner stated that the diagnosis was the pathologist’s opinion and that Christie’s cause of death would be determined by the coronial process.
New Zealand Rugby’s chief executive, Steve Lancaster, told New Zealand media that his organization “recognizes the link between repeated head injuries and CTE and takes the issue seriously.”
Lancaster said, “The New Zealand Rugby Neurological Foundation accepts Shane Christie’s CTE pathology results, confirmed by the Human Brain Bank. We also acknowledge and respect the role of the coroner in determining the nature of any inquest investigating the cause and circumstances of Shane’s passing.”
“We share concerns about the potential long-term effects of repeated head collisions in rugby and support the need for ongoing research into this.”
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