Coaches' Legal Liability for Damages Induced by Weight-Loss Programs with Fast Method in Weight Class Sports

The aim of this study was to investigate and compare weight-loss programs in weight class sports and determine the legal liability of coaches for the damages of these programs in athletes with various age groups. The method of this study was descriptive-explanatory, field and library study. Participants were 985 athletes and 98 coaches of boxing, judo, weightlifting, taekwondo, freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. The results showed that 80.25% of athletes who participated in this study used fast method of weight loss significantly more than other methods (t=4.16; P<0.05). This method occurred in 70.05% of participants repeatedly. 93% of coaches were aware of short-term and long-term psychological / physical damages of this method. Above 86% of them had non-related education. Legal reviews revealed that coaches' liability for short-term and long-term psychological / physical damages of fast method was clear as follows: coaching skills and permission, operation and non-operation. Therefore, legal liability of the coaches in this domain - especially in children and adolescent age groups - is obvious.