Across Taiwan, reports of abuse in “sports class” programs are mounting. Many student athletes come from marginalized or low-income communities with limited academic support, and see sports as a pathway to scholarships, housing, social mobility, and sometimes the only viable future. But instead of support, they have been subjected to violent physical punishment, psychological coercion, sexual assault, and unethical medical experimentation.

In this episode, Katia Lin of the Humanistic Education Foundation breaks down a system built on unequal power, isolation, and fear—where coaches hold near-total control over a child’s athletic future, academic standing, and daily life.