The Emergence of Gene-Doping

VOLUME XXI NUMBER 3 SUMMER 2008 ENHANCEMENT IN SPORT – THE These kinds of genetic approaches to justified in the world of sport, where EMERGENCE OF GENE-DOPING therapy have begun to demonstrate life- competitive pressures, medical injuries, Mark S. Frankel saving results. For instance, children financial incentives such as huge salaries suffering from lethal forms of genetic and lucrative endorsement deals, national Mark S. Frankel, Ph.D., is Director of immune deficiencies have had their pride, and public adulation coalesce to the AAAS Program on Scientific immune defects corrected by the create the “perfect storm” for Freedom, Responsibility and Law, the introduction of normal forms of several performance enhancement. editor of PER, and was on the program genes into their blood cells. Many of committee for the WADA Symposium on them have lived normal childhood lives One recent example from the laboratory Gene Doping held in St. Petersburg, for as long as seven-to-eight years since has made the prospect of gene doping Russia, June 2008. the treatment. However, to underscore the increasingly likely. In July, researchers experimental and potentially dangerous at the Salk Institute in San Diego While many of the grand nature of the technology, several of the reported that they had used two drugs to accomplishments by extraordinary children have developed leukemia as a alter energy metabolism and the pattern athletes at the 2008 Olympics took our direct result of their treatment, and one of of muscle fibers in mice. This had the breath away, there are still those holding them has died [2]. effect of enabling the mice to run faster their breaths, hoping that the dazzling and longer than normal. Recognizing the array of performances in Beijing are not The demonstration that it is possible to implications of their research for subsequently tainted by allegations and modify disease traits by introducing competitive sport, the scientists findings of illicit doping. In the days and foreign genes into the body raises the approached sports officials with their weeks ahead, Olympic officials will be possibility that similar methods will findings, asking them to collaborate on conducting further tests on samples from eventually be equally effective in altering developing a test that would be able to athletes collected during the sporting “normal” human traits that some may detect the drugs [3]. events for any evidence of doping. wish to enhance. Today, we are bombarded by messages that reinforce Responding to Gene Doping During the Olympics there was the notion that enhancement via drugs, significant increase in the amount of dietary supplements, and cosmetic Although there is no evidence that gene testing by anti-doping labs in Beijing. surgery is readily accessible for personal doping has been used by athletes, the The International Olympic Committee self-improvement. For many, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), conducted between 4,000-5,000 tests, enhancements via the science of genetics established in 1999 to detect and reduce 1000 more tests than were conducted in will be seen as a logical extension of doping, plans to be pro-active. It has the 2004 Games in Athens and the most what is commonplace today. invested in a new approach that would in Olympic history [1]. But even as focus on “the effects of gene doping at officials test for traditional methods of Gene Doping the genetic level, at the proteomic level, enhancement—drugs, growth hormone, and possibly at the metabolic level”[4]. etc.—scientific developments in genetics In modern times, the enhancements of This emphasis on the “effects” of gene are raising more challenges. choice among athletes have been the doping, rather than focusing on the familiar drug-based techniques, such as identification of substances that are the Genetics as Treatment of steroids and growth hormones, and the “cause” of such effects, will circumvent widespread use of erythropoietin in athletes’ attempts to evade detection by New forms of medicine are emerging endurance sports such as cycling. Now current tests by using methods like based on the use of genetic material to the world of sport has become limiting the amount taken, regulating the ameliorate human disease. They rely on increasingly concerned about methods timing of intake, or substituting their own methods that introduce foreign genes into that introduce genes designed not to treat urine with that of others. The seriousness cells and tissues to repair or replace disease, but to enhance athletic of this issue to WADA is reflected in its defective functions due to genetic errors. performance. These concerns are allocation of one-quarter of its $25 Summer 2008 Professional Ethics Report 1 (Frankel continued from page 1) The Internet is the world’s largest and Among the findings were the following: most ubiquitous marketplace, which, million research budget on the science of unencumbered by geographical The potential risks of gene doping gene doping, including its detection [5]. • boundaries, facilitates the dissemination are inconsistent with ethical norms The challenges posed to WADA and of information and goods for both of human research and medical other sports organizations concerned legitimate and illicit uses. It can directly practice. about gene doping are exacerbated by a communicate with consumers in the • Significant progress has been made technology much more ubiquitous than privacy of their homes. It offers new in identifying molecular targets the knowledge and techniques of genetic ways to market and sell products that suitable for developing gene doping enhancement. The Internet, combined circumvent scientific peer review and, in detection. with commercial interests, creates a some cases, escape regulatory oversight. • The commercialization of genetic powerful marketing tool for promotion Anyone can set up a website, and science and the worldwide market and distribution. No effort to keep companies promote themselves to broad are affecting the…accessibility by doping out of sports is likely to be fully audiences in order to create new markets sport figures to materials and successful if it ignores the influence of for products. “While commercial methods of potential use in gene the marketplace. websites are…biased, and unreliable by doping. rigorous scientific standards, they are a Persons differ, cognitively and • It is important for WADA to have a principal source of information for many emotionally, in the way they perceive clear view of the regulatory athletes, and should be monitored when marketing messages and in the way they framework that would best serve the looking for evidence of developing trends are affected. Some are more vulnerable interest of sport and be an active in doping” [8]. or gullible than others. As others have participant in the societal discussion noted, “athletes feel excessive pressure to of these issues. WADA’s St Petersburg Declaration win, and particularly when extrinsic rewards are at stake, they may resort to Among the recommendations were the It was out of concern for the possibility questionable behaviours in an attempt to following: of gene doping that WADA hosted a ensure victory” [6]. Among those Gene-Doping Symposium in June 2008 “questionable behaviours” are • The WADA research program in St. Petersburg, Russia. More than 60 “[S]ubstances that improve performance, should continue to be the central representatives from 16 countries or are even perceived to improve component of …developing attended. They included experts in gene performance, [which] are widely used by improved detection methods for transfer, scientists from the field of anti- athletes….The ‘just say no’ approach to doping in sport…and there should doping, WADA’s Gene Doping Panel advising the athlete about these be increasing emphasis on members, representatives from sports and supplements will continue to fail because expanding such research to regulatory authorities, policy analysts, there is such a potent marketing influence additional academic, private and and ethicists. Over two days there were to take these supplements and such a commercial institutions. eight presentations on topics including powerful drive in athletes to find a • Encourage research on ethics and the state of the science, ethical issues, the competitive advantage”[7]. gene doping. commercial and policy dimensions of • Promote knowledge in the sport Editor: Mark S. Frankel gene doping in sport, and the legal community about misconceptions Deputy Editor: Jennifer L. Sta.Ana framework within which laws and and potential dangers associated Contributing Authors: Ludwig Hamo, regulations could combat the use of gene with gene doping. Leslie Lipsick, Justine Olszewski, doping in competitive sport. (The full Increase awareness within the sport Deborah Runkle program is posted at http://www.wada- • community about marketing and The Professional Ethics Report is ama.org/en/dynamic.ch2?pageCategory.i communications strategies published quarterly by the Scientific d=794.) Freedom, Responsibility and Law Program employed to promote the use of in collaboration with the Committee on At the end of the symposium, the genetic technologies in sport. Scientific Freedom and Responsibility. participants agreed to a series of findings • Anti-doping organizations should be and recommendations on several aspects American Association for the Advancement prepared to provide objective and of Science, 1200 New York Avenue, NW, of gene doping, many of which were reliable information

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