Report: Multiple B1G schools say they're 'not experiencing' high levels of myocarditis among student-athletes who test positive for COVID-19

Representatives from multiple B1G schools are already saying that they’re not experiencing an issue with myocarditis in “30 to 35 percent” of student-athletes, as suggested earlier this week by a Penn State team doctor.

Thursday, the Centre Times Daily reported that Penn State director of athletic medicine Wayne Sebastianelli recently spoke during a State College Area school board of director meeting and provided some insight on the connection between COVID-19 and myocarditis. Per Sebastianelli, between 30 and 35 percent of B1G athletes who tested positive for the virus also appeared to have myocarditis.

Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle that can be fatal if gone undetected. B1G commissioner Kevin Warren has stated that the uncertainty surrounding the condition was one of the factors in the conference’s decision to postpone the football season.

“When we looked at our COVID-positive athletes, whether they were symptomatic or not, 30 to roughly 35 percent of their heart muscles (are) inflamed,” Sebastianelli said. “And we really just don’t know what to do with it right now. It’s still very early in the infection. Some of that has led to the Pac-12 and the Big Ten’s decision to sort of put a hiatus on what’s happening.”

However, a recent report from FootballScoop.com indicates that multiple B1G programs are not having that kind of experience. From FootballScoop:

FootballScoop reached out to contacts at 8 Big Ten schools (including Penn State). 6 have responded so far (not including Penn State), all 6 have said something along the lines of “We’re not experiencing that here and haven’t heard of anyone in the conference experiencing this. Last we heard was nearly 10 total athletes across all sports.” Update> ESPN has released information today saying, “Of the 26 schools (all Power 5) that answered the question about heart-related conditions for student-athletes, only one school — Oregon State — reported having an athlete who developed heart-related issues after contracting COVID-19, but the school stated it was not myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle.”

The B1G opted to postpone fall sports and college football until spring on Aug. 11. It is one of four FBS conferences that has decided to not move forward with athletics this fall, along with the MAC, Mountain West and Pac-12.