Topsport en gendoping. Grenzen aan sport, opsporing en geloofwaardigheid

Abstract

Abstract: Elite sport and gene doping. Limitations to sport, detection and credibility. Biogenetic research confronts the world of sports with a variety of ‘promises', varying from the early detection of talent, the exclusion of athletes with an unfavourable genetic makeup to the enhancement of athletic performances. The use of gene technology for purposes of enhancing athletic performance raises new issues in relation to the ‘classical’ doping discussion. Genetic modifications may be very hard to detect. Another urging question is how to demarcate, protect and control the boundary between gene therapy and genetic enhancement. Trying to control and detect the method instead of the effects of illegal performance enhancement has moral implications for the invasive character of detection. It also brings the distrust between athletes and anti-doping policy to a new level. If detection becomes problematic it also threatens the principle of equal opportunities and an equal distribution of means for all athletes. If the outcome of the game depends on differences in the access to gene technology, this outcome may be considered non-relevant for the inequalities that the game is supposed to measure. Some ‘vulnerable’ sports (in which just force or speed is measured] may therefore loose their attraction for the wider audience. If WADA looses credibility in its attempt to detect the use of gene technology in sport, this will also affect the public trust in the authenticity and ownership of sport performances. However, public trust in the authenticity of sport performances not only depends on the fairness of athletes, but also on a just controlling system and respect for the privacy of athletes.