WADA’s Play True – Gene Doping

The first 2005 issue of WADA’s magazine ‘Play True’ is all about Gene Doping. WADA President Richard Pound leads the publication, identifying that ‘gene therapy represents an exciting and promising step forward in medical research, but its use to enhnace athletic ability is as wrong as any type of traditional doping’.

It is not the first time that the magazine has discussed gene doping, but the profile in this issue is significant. WADA have set-up a gene doping panel, which includes H. Lee Sweeney, Olivier Rabin (WADA Science Director) and Theodore Freidmann, among others.

Pound emphasises the need for regulatory frameworks in gene transfer technology and Thomas H. Murray (The Hastings Center and WADA Ethics and Education) provides an ethical analysis of the issue.

On Detection:
The issue includes a couple of main points about detection. It first identifies that many athletes have a ‘false sense of security about wheher gene doping can be detected’. It goes on to state that ‘It might be difficult to see that a particular gene has been added to the body, but there will be consequences to that addition that can be seen and measured’. They conclude ‘Bottom line? Detection is possible and probable’, but there are no tests yet.

Bioethics and Human Excellence

Details of a bioethics symposium where performance enhancement makes the programme.

Ethics Symposium: Bioethics and Human Excellence
Centennial Celebration Event
Southwest Missouri State University
Friday and Saturday, March 4-5, 2005
Plaster Student Union Theatre

Organized by

College of Humanities and Public Affairs
Pamela R. Sailors, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Head, Department of Philosophy
Robert P. Jones, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Religious Studies

Select proceedings being considered for a special edition of Philosophy and Public Affairs

The session on performance and sport included the following papers:

Session II: Bioethics and Human Enhancement: Superior Performance

4:00-6:15 p.m.

Speakers:

Courtney S. Campbell, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy, Director, Program for Ethics, Science, and the Environment, Oregon State University

Mark A. Holowchak, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy, Kutztown University, former professional powerlifter

Topics:

Permanent medical implants in the body (bionics)

Sport and the Superior Athlete: Different ways of Enhancing Performance (equipment, training, native powers)

Targeting Specific Deficiencies of Old Age: Muscle Enhancement, Memory Enhancement

Moderator: Jeff Nash, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology, SMSU

link to more info

Genetic tests for Rugby team

Dennis, C. (2005). “Rugby team converts to give gene tests a try.” Nature 34: 260.

Carina Dennis writes in Nature about an Australian rugby league team which aims to use genetic tests to stream-line training methods. The article quotes someone from the Australian Law Reforms Commission, whose report ‘Essentially Yours’ deals with this subject at some length. Australia seems to be taking a leading role in thinking through these issues. Ron Trent’s work at the University of Sydney is central to this research and he claims that we still do not know enough about genes for this purpose. Issues of privacy and discrimination are central to this topic. Will genetically risky athletes be prevented from participation? Will young children who dont fit the profile be excluded? Will sports authorities have the legal power to demand genetic info from athletes?

HFL to lead gene doping research

Quote from UK Sport link

“The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has announced a major research award of $400,000 (£212,000) to HFL – one of the UK’s WADA-accredited laboratories. The funding will support a three-year programme managed by HFL which aims to develop suitable detection methods for gene doping.

WADA defines gene doping as “the non-therapeutic use of genes, genetic elements and/or cells that have the capacity to enhance athletic performance”. The practice is banned under the WADA list of prohibited substances or methods, although there is currently no way in which it can be detected.

With the support of WADA funding, HFL will manage a consortium of scientific experts on gene doping from Nottingham Trent University and the Royal Free Hospital in London. “As soon as new technology becomes available, it is subject to abuse by those who have no interest in fair competition,” said David Hall, Chief Executive Officer of HFL. “This funding will help us to develop methods of detecting gene manipulation.”

The potential threat of gene doping has been long recognised by WADA, which has devoted a significant share of its research funds finding a solution to the problem. This concentrated effort is back by John Scott, Director of Drug-Free Sport at UK Sport. “Gene therapy is a major medical breakthrough which could transform the lives of many people who suffer from muscle wasting diseases,” he said. “However, it is also a dream come true for an athlete wishing to cheat, particularly while it remains undetectable.

“The development of such a detection method is key in protecting the integrity of sport, and it is testimony to the expertise at our disposal that British scientists are at the forefront on this research.”

In addition, HFL has been awarded up to £800,000 by the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) to investigate gene doping specifically for the horseracing industry”

It is great that the UK is moving on this. I met Ian Gibson MP in July 2004 to discuss the state of anti-doping in the UK. He agreed that this issue needs to be placed on the political agenda. This is one indication that some wheels are turning but where’s the ethical framework for the strategy? Detect-test is only part of the system.