Gene Doping, a person’s genetic makeup modified so that the body produces more hormones and other natural substances that boost the body…and athletic performance. Gene Doping is set to become a completely undetectable, unstoppable steroid.
Gene Doping was created with innocent, charitable intent; however, there are unintended consequences that could destroy the integrity of international sport. Biotech companies are already developing gene therapies to increase red blood cell production, which raises the amount of oxygen delivered to cells; these treatments are intended to help people with severe anemia. The athletes can, and potentially will, use this to bolster their aerobic capacity. Other gene therapy is in the works for patients with degenerative muscle diseases such as muscular dystrophy. Researchers have successfully beefed-up the muscles of mice and baboons with new genes. This therapy can quite obviously be used by athletes to strengthen one specific muscle. These are potential medical breakthroughs in the right way, but the consequences are just as much a breakthrough, in the wrong way. This creates a great moral question? What do we value more, sports or the sick?
Despite some people labeling sports as “useless” and “games”, sports today is a cornerstone in society. It celebrates the greatness of man, and our striving for excellence. If Gene Doping works and is used by athletes, we will not be watching champions. We will be let down, watching mere experiments and lies. We have thieves now, but if we could never find them the world will be in chaos; it is no different in sports, without a way to catch the criminals, it will become a contest of doctors.
Gene Doping does also have benefits, and this creates an already discussed moral question: What is more important to us, sports or the sick? Despite sport’s importance in society, we can have no integrity in the Olympics and still live. The sick can’t. They need the Gene Doping more than we spectators need integrity in professional sports. Their lives are on the line.
Therefore, Gene Doping should be continued for the sake of those who it was created for. What the Anti Doping Agency should, and is currently doing, is desperately try to find a way to detect Gene Doping. Until then, the sports world will be in the hands of our athletes.
1 comment:
I completely agree with you in the point that sports are there to show the capacity of humans to do something. I believe that if gene doping becomes uncontrolable, than the competition will be of who has more money to buy that "drug", because the ones that have more access to these substances will be certainly the winners.
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