Wheeler Documents Disappear

The medical record of Rashidi Wheeler’s final physical examination at Northwestern University is missing, a development labeled “highly suspect” by the late football player’s family and attorney.

Wheeler, a 22-year-old strong safety from La Verne Damien High, died after an Aug. 3 conditioning drill at Northwestern. The Cook County (Ill.) medical examiner ruled his death was a result of exercise-induced asthma, but attorneys defending the university in a wrongful death lawsuit contend Wheeler died because he ingested supplements containing ephedra before the drill.

Wheeler family attorney Jim Montgomery said the disappearance of the documents detailing Wheeler’s physical on July 12, 2001, could most hurt supplement makers who have been named co-defendants by Northwestern in the suit. Montgomery said former Northwestern trainer Tory Aggeler reported in a recent deposition that Wheeler had inquired about his use of an energy drink, believed to be ephedra-containing Ultimate Punch, to Mark Gardner, the Northwestern physician who gave Wheeler the physical.

“Tory told us Gardner had asked Rashidi to clear his use of that drink with Tory,” Montgomery said. “Tory said he never heard from Rashidi, but Gardner might have put that conversation he had with Rashidi in his report -- which would confirm that Northwestern was aware that supplements were being used by at least one of its athletes.”

Jack Riley Jr., the attorney for supplement maker Cytodyne Technologies, told the Chicago Tribune that the disappearance of the physical report was “beyond belief.”

Northwestern attorney Eric Quandt was not available for comment Saturday.