The perils of playing college sports during a pandemic came into clear view this week, as Georgia State quarterback Mikele Colasurdo announced that he will not play in 2020 due to a heart condition that resulted from contracting COVID-19.
Colasurdo is an incoming freshman and three-star recruit at Georgia State.
1 Corinthians 2:5 pic.twitter.com/KSIRALqfY0
— Mikele Colasurdo (@mikelecolasurdo) August 20, 2020
"Today I was diagnosed with a heart condition as a result of my COVID-19 infection," Colasurdo tweeted on Thursday. "Unfortunately, this means that I will not be able to play this football season. ...I am incredibly thankful for coach Elliott and trainer Bob for providing a safe environment for us to train and practice."
Colasurdo said he hopes to play in 2021, according to SI.com.
Georgia State is part of the Sun Belt conference, which will play its 2020 season this fall.
Possible heart complications due to COVID-19 has become a concern with college athletic directors who are looking to play this season.
ESPN first reported that a condition linked to COVID-19 called myocarditis has been found in at least five Big Ten Conference athletes and among several other athletes in other conferences.
The condition, which involves inflammation of the heart muscle, can cause heart damage and sudden cardiac arrest.
Conference officials and athletic directors told ESPN that the uncertainty about the long-term effects of myocarditis has been discussed in meetings of presidents and chancellors, commissioners and athletic directors, and health advisory board members from the Big Ten, Pac-12 and other conferences around the country.
