Claiming that Canadian Football League player Trevis Smith, an Alabama native, poses a health risk, police in Canada have revealed publicly that he is HIV-positive. Smith was arrested on October 28 and charged with aggravated sexual assault. His infection was revealed, police say, because of the seriousness of the charges and the possibility he put others at risk for HIV infection.
Smith was released on bail but was ordered by a judge to use condoms for all sexual activity and to inform his sex partners of his positive serostatus. He has not played football since his arrest, according to a spokesperson for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the team Smith played for through seven seasons.
The Canadian Public Health Association is distributing HIV education materials to all players and staff of the nine league teams, some of whom have expressed concern that they might have been exposed to while playing against Smith. Studies have shown no HIV transmissions have ever been linked to contact with an HIV-positive athlete.
